Single-parent children and educational attainment

As the number of children growing up in single-parent households has risen over the last one hundred years, the possible effects of living arrangements has become more impactful in children’s schooling, as well as other aspects of their lives, including health and work.

Children growing up in single-parent families may correlate with lower average educational attainment compared to children raised in a household with two parents. Understanding the causes of these differences could help combat educational inequalities.

Academic studies

Studies have shown that living with one parent can impact a child’s education attainment.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report in 2009 compared how reading grades from students in single-parent families (SSPF) compared with grades from students living in other families in countries throughout the world. The report found that globally, the average SSPF had a reading grade which was 16% lower than other students. However, there was a vast difference between countries, with SSPFs in Qatar scoring a grade 80% lower than other students, while SSPFs in Kazakhstan scored 20% higher grades than their classmates. SSPFs in the USA performed about 45% lower than their classmates, while students in Ireland performed at about 25% lower; SSPFs in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were close to the average of 16% lower.

The age of SSPFs has also been taken into consideration, with a 2019 study finding that SSPFs aged seven years or younger will have a lower education attainment than those who were raised by both parents until the age of seven.

Another link between students with low educational attainment later becoming single parents has also been explored, with high achievers being almost two-thirds less likely to become a single parent.

Children lacking a mother figure are at greater risk academically than those lacking a father figure.

Children in special education classes are more likely to be from that of a one parent household as well as of ethnic minority.

Other socioeconomic factors such as racial group, parents' education level, and income play a role in children's academic success.

A 2003 report concluded that government policies could offset negative academic changes. The 2009 OECD report also looked at the socio-economic backgrounds of SSPFs and found 8 countries where SSPFs perform better at reading than their classmates after their backgrounds are taken into consideration. However, a 2019 report showed that changes in economic status following still accounted for changes in SSPF attainment.

The socio-economic background of parents has also been seen as one of the impactful factors in children’s lives and education.

Importance of studying the academic outcomes of single-parent children

Understanding differences in academic performance between single-parent children and their peers from two-parent households can help inform assistance and resources to close the gap and advance educational equity. The results of research can be used to help create social policies and support initiatives that are specifically suited to difficulties single parents and their children experience.

A child's educational outcomes can be better understood by looking into family dynamics, parental involvement, and support networks. This information can help educators understand how to engage and support single-parent pupils, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment, as well as assisting single parents in adopting healthy parenting techniques.

Future socioeconomic opportunities are largely influenced by educational attainment. Examining the academic outcomes of single-parent children can give a better understanding of how family structure may affect long-term opportunities. Success in school frequently ripples down to succeeding generations. By finding intervention points to enhance children's academic progress and achievement, analyzing the academic outcomes of single-parent children can aid in ending inter-generational cycles of disadvantage.

The mental health and general well-being of a child might be affected by their academic performance. Insights into the pressures and problems they may encounter can be used to design programs for counseling and targeted mental health care.