Developmental Effects of Having a Single Parent. Many of the developmental risks that children of single parents face have to do with their progress in school. Compared to kids from two-parent families, they tend to get lower grades, suffer more absenteeism, and have more problems relating to peers and teachers.

Does single parenting affect the child in a bad way?

Children raised by single mothers are more likely to fare worse on a number of dimensions, including their school achievement, their social and emotional development, their health and their success in the labor market. Even beyond having more income, two parents also have more time to spend with the child.

How does living in a single-parent home affect a child?

Varied research shows that children in single-parent homes fare worse than those with two parents. Adolescents from single parent families were found to be three times more likely to be depressed than those living with two parents. Criminal activity is also more associated with single parent homes.

How does single parenting affect a child emotionally?

Single-parent children can feel frightened, stressed, and frustrated by the difference between their lives and their friends. Children of single parents are more prone to various psychiatric illnesses, alcohol abuse, and suicide attempts than children from homes with two parents.