Final answer:
Single fathers are part of the growing demographic of single-parent households, and while the data indicates an increase in single father households, there is no explicit information on mortality rates provided in the references. Social forces driving these changes include the rise of same-sex parenting, acceptance of various family structures, and legal and social shifts promoting inclusivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Single fathers had a higher mortality rate than single mothers or partnered parents. This is seen within the context of increasing numbers of single-parent households and the evolution of family structures. While mothers constitute the majority of single parents, single fathers are a growing demographic. In 2010, 27 percent of children lived with a single parent, with 23 percent living with their mother and three percent with their father. By 2017, the percentage of children living with a single father had risen to four percent. However, there is no explicit mortality data provided in the given information, meaning that a definitive comparison of mortality rates between single fathers, single mothers, and partnered parents cannot be established based on the provided data.
There are several social forces behind these demographic changes, including the acceptance of same-sex parenting, an increase in the number of single men and women choosing to raise children through surrogates or adoption, and the legal recognition of same-sex marriages, which has had a positive impact on the mental and emotional wellbeing of the LGBTQ community.