Coming into young adulthood is a risk factor within itself, try being a single parent between the ages of 18 to 35, the risk factors increase at a rapid rate. Understanding risk factors associated with single parenting is vital for the policy makers who are concerned with reducing the rate of children born out of wedlock. Some of the common risk factors are childhood experiences, environmental issues, neighborhoods,socioeconomic opportunities, family structures,parents'marital status, parental educational, and income levels are some of the common risk factors thought to be associated with single parents.(www.family.jrank.org)
According to research, risk factors for single parents is caused by the instability in family arrangements that are associated with job loss and frequent migration .(www.familyjrank.org)
It appears that society thinks that children in single parent homes who experience poverty and inadequacy of resources face a higher likelihood of being involved in nonmarital fertility. It has come to my understanding that some researchers think that nonmarital fertility is influenced by neighborhood contexts, meaning women in neighborhoods iwth a higher concentration of public assistance recepients experience high levels of nonmarital fertility, possibly because of receipt of public assistance is related to poverty, the absence of positive role models, and a lack of community resources.
To speak for myself, I was raised in a lower middle class suburban home, I was raised with the traditional views about female gender roles and the family. I had high self-esteem, high academic possibilities,high goals, and my family was very loving. My nonmarital childbearing was not caused by my socioeconomic background, nor my neighborhood, but by the phase " emerging adulthood" (Hutchinson,2008). I was exploring my relationships and trying to transiton into young adult, not knowing I was about to become labeled a "RISK FACTOR".
Being a single parent and having overcome many risk factors, has made me a stronger person and appreciated the protective factors that were put place for me to become a better parent and strive to have a better life for my child.
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3 comments:
I have not expierenced the single parenthood lifestyle, but have witnessed others. I agree with you that there are several risk factors associated with becoming a single parent. Not all risk apply to every single parent. Your validation of becoming a single parent shows that with protective factors you can decrease the risk factors of single parenthood.
I have several friends who got pregnant and had children in the absence of a committed relationship. Some of them did just fine and some of the others ended up giving custody of their children to their parents or the state. The ones that faired well did so because they had strong family support. I think that strong family support is a huge protective factor for the young mother and for the baby. Its hard enough for many young adults to just take care of themselves, let alone another solely dependent human being. I applaud you for you struggle and success as a single parent.
This is an interesting view on single parenting. I am a single parent and it becomes increasingly hard daily to be able to adequately provide support for my children. The risk factors you mentioned are apparent and you must have protective factors to counter this as you stated. Protective factors should include focusing on educational values, morals, engaging in extracurricular activities that bolster self-esteem and faith based organizations play an important role. Even with protective factors in place, negative events can modify a family unit. Risk factors such as peer pressure, negative media images and society's infatuation with privilege are definite contributors.
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