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The Impact of Family Formation Change on the Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Well-Being of the Next Generation (PDF)
By The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and The Brookings Institution , Ed.
The Future of Children, 15, 2; Fall, 2005

Summary: This article examines how recent changes in family structure affect the cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of children. Research shows that compared with other children, those who grow up in stable, two-parent families have a higher standard of living, receive more effective parenting, experience more cooperative co-parenting, are emotionally closer to both parents (especially fathers), and are subjected to fewer stressful events and circumstances. It is assessed how marriage promotion policies will affect the well-being of children. Interventions that increase the share of children who grow up with both parents would improve the overall well-being of children only modestly, because children’s social or emotional problems have many causes. However, even a small decline in percentages, when multiplied by the many children in the population, is a substantial social benefit. It is suggested that interventions to strengthen marital quality and stability would be most profitable if focused on parents in first marriages.

Index Terms: Child Advocacy, Demographics, Marriage, Social Development Social Policies, Child Development, Cognitive Development, Emotional Development, Outcomes, Social Development

Publication Type: Journal Articles

Pages: 22 pages
Language: English
URL: http://www.futureofchildren.org/usr_doc/05_FOC_15-2_fall05_Amato.pdf

 
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