Final answer:
Single parenthood often poses risks for children due to economic and emotional challenges, with statistics showing that single-parent households may lack financial and educational advantages. However, a strong parent-child relationship is crucial for a child's adaptation, and various family structures, including single-parent and same-sex households, can also provide a nurturing environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The authors suggest that single parenthood poses risks for children primarily because single parents often face economic and emotional challenges. U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that children in single-parent households are more likely to grow up with fewer financial and educational advantages, with a significant number living at or near the poverty level. Moreover, children of never-married parents typically have younger parents with lower incomes and less education. Cohabitating couples and single adults, including a rising number of single fathers and same-sex couples, often choose to raise children outside of traditional marriage, which presents a departure from past family structures and can introduce unique challenges. Despite these difficulties, a strong parent-child relationship can significantly improve a child's adjustment to the situation.
Divorced parents, in particular divorced fathers, may provide more advantages to children than never-married parents, which may be due to age, income, and educational factors. Additionally, proximity to parents and a stable environment can affect a child's well-being after divorce, with children in joint custody arrangements often faring better behaviorally and emotionally. While changes in family structures and the growth of single-parent and blended families present challenges, it's important to recognize that effective parenting and resilience to stress are critical factors in ensuring the well-being of children, regardless of parental marital status or household composition.