This module explores how family structure and financial resources impact indicators of child well-being.
Begin by going to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count web site and click
on "Kids Count Data Book Online." Look at how "percent single-parent families" varies across
the states.
[MAP: single-parent families]
a. Eyeballing the map, which region or regions of the country have a higher percentage of single-parent families with
children?
Use the "Rankings" function to determine which state has the highest rate of children living in poverty and record the
percentage for that state.
[RANKING:
single-parent families]
Record which state(s) has the lowest percentage. Now record which state(s) has the highest percentages. Subtract the low
from the high percentage to determine the range of variation for "Percent single parent families".
| State Ranking |
Percent Single Parent |
Highest
___________________ |
______% |
lowest
___________________ |
_____% |
| Variation (high-low percent) |
_____% |
Examine "Percent Single Parent" as a trend over time.
[GRAPH]
Describe the overall national trend. Was there an increase, decrease or did it stay the same. Nationally are we
experiencing more or less single parent families?
Describe the trend for Minnesota and the other state chosen. Do these state trends differ from the national trend? Describe
any similarities and differences?
Single parent families have more stressors because financial resources are often limited and adults experience more
role conflict (competing demands from different roles such as parenting and work). Therefore we might expect outcomes to be more negative
for children living in families headed by a single parent.
Write a hypothesis stating the relationship you predict between "children living in poverty" and "percent single
parent".
To test the relationship between these variables, go to the SSDAN Kids Count Data Resources and Analysis Tools page.
Download the excel file "tool_us.xls" and open it.
Make a scatter plot by using the pull down menu. Let x be "percent single parent 1999" and y be Poverty ("children living
in poverty 1999.") Cut and paste chart into a word file and record the correlation coefficient.
Write an interpretation of the correlation coefficient summarizing the relationship between single parenthood and children
living in poverty. Pay attention to both the strength and direction of the coefficient. Click on the FAQ tab to see how to interpret
correlation coefficients.
>Are there any data points that seem to stand outnot part of the cluster of data points? These are called outliers. Click
on an outlier to see which state is represented.
Was your hypothesis confirmed? Explain your answer.
Families with less financial resources are more likely to live in poverty.
Write a hypothesis stating the relationship you predict between "percent single-parent families" and "median income of
families with children."
Make a scatter plot by using the pull down menu. Let x be "percent single parent 1999" and y be "median income families
with children 1999." Cut and paste chart into a word file and record the correlation coefficient.
Write an interpretation of the correlation coefficient summarizing the relationship between single parenthood and median
family income. Pay attention to both the strength and direction of the coefficient.
Was your hypothesis confirmed? Explain your answer.
We might predict that because of fewer financial resources and role stressors, single parent families have more
negative outcomes for children.
Write a hypothesis stating the relationship you predict between "percent single parent families" and "infant mortality."
Write an interpretation of the correlation coefficient summarizing the relationship between single parenthood and infant
mortality. Pay attention to both the strength and direction of the coefficient.
Was your hypothesis confirmed? Explain your answer.
Letıs examine another type of negative outcome, school dropouts. Because single parents often work and have limited
financial resources, teens may be left unsupervised for longer periods of time and may be at risk for dropping out of school.
Write a hypothesis stating the relationship you predict between "percent single parent families" and "dropouts."
Write an interpretation of the correlation coefficient summarizing the relationship between single parenthood and school
dropouts. Pay attention to both the strength and direction of the coefficient.
Was your hypothesis confirmed? Explain your answer.
Because single-parent families are often blamed for social problems such as juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, and
infant mortality, policy makers seek to discourage out-of-wedlock childbearing and divorce because these are perceived causes of
single-parent families. Recent welfare reform legislation limiting welfare benefits for poor parents (usually women) with children and
covenant marriage laws (such as in Louisiana) making it harder to divorce are recent policy trends designed to encourage two parent families.
On the other side of the debate are those who argue that it is not the single parent family that is deficient per se, but the tendency for
non-custodial parents to stop paying child support and or alimony.
Write a hypothesis stating the relationship you predict between "percent female headed families with children receiving
child support and/or alimony" and "infant mortality."
Write an interpretation of the correlation coefficient summarizing the relationship between the percentage receiving
child support and infant mortality. Pay attention to both the strength and direction of the coefficient.
Was your hypothesis confirmed? Explain your answer.
Letıs repeat this analysis to see if dropping out of school is correlated with receiving child support. Ostensibly,
parents with more financial resources may be able to spend more time supervising children or paying for programs that provide a structured
environment like sports programs. These kids may be less at risk for dropping out of school.
Write a hypothesis stating the relationship you predict between "percent female headed families with children receiving
child support and/or alimony" and "school dropouts."
Write an interpretation of the correlation coefficient summarizing the relationship between the percentage receiving
child support and school dropouts. Pay attention to both the strength and direction of the coefficient.
Was your hypothesis confirmed? Explain your answer.
Based on your analysis, what policy recommendations might you make to combat the tendency for children living in
single-parent families to be at greater risk for infant mortality, low birth rate, and other negative outcomes?
