Does Divorce or Remarriage Have the Greater Negative Impact on the Academic Achievement of Children?

Does Parental Involvement Eliminate the Effects of Parental Divorce on the Academic Achievement of Adolescents?

“…Using the SES Model, the remarriage variable produces larger betas than the divorce variable. These results are not surprising and are consistent with other studies that show this same pattern (Amato and Ochiltree, 1987;Jeynes, 1998a). These findings emerge because the act of remarriage generally raises the family SES level, especially the income component of SES.…”

“…The fact that parental divorce and remarriage exert a downward pressure on the academic achievement of children is well documented (Cherlin, 1992;Hetherington & Clingempeel, 1992;Jeynes, 1998a;McLanahan and Sandefur, 1994;Wallerstein, Corbin, and Lewis, 1988).…”

“…The primary reason for this rests in the fact that relatively few studies on stepfamilies have examined the impact of this family structure on academic achievement (Booth & Dunn, 1994;Emery, 1988;Ganong & Coleman, 1994;Jeynes, 1998a;Wertlieb, 1997). Nevertheless, a growing body of research indicates that parental remarriage appears to have somewhat of a negative influence on the academic outcomes of children (Hetherington & Jodl, 1994;Popenoe, 1994;Zill, 1994;Zill & Nord, 1994).…”

The Effects of Several of the Most Common Family Structures on the Academic Achievement of Eighth Graders

“…Over the last twenty-five years social scientists have repeatedly documented the negative influence that divorce has on academic achievement (Cherlin, 1992;Hetherington & Clingempeel, 1992;Jeynes, 1998a;McLanahan & Sandefur, 1994;Wallerstein, Corbin, & Lewis 1988). Recently, as the proportion of never-married single mothers has grown, social scientists have examined the effects of this family structure on the well-being of children (Demo & Acock, 1996;Thomson et al, 1994).…”

“…Although a respectable amount of research has been conducted on cohabitation, most of the analyses undertaken have not focused on the effects of this family structure on the academic achievement of school children (e.g., Loomis & Landale, 1994;Ross, 1995;Schoen & Weineck, 1993). Research on stepfamilies has lagged considerably behind that of divorce and is still a relatively new area of study (Booth & Dunn, 1994;Furstenberg, 1988;Ganong & Coleman, 1994;Heyman, 1992;Jeynes, 1998a). Booth and Dunn (1994, p. ix) note, ''Compared to other family groups, the stepfamily has been neglected both with respect to research and policy.''…”