Changes in family structure and child outcomes: Roles of economic and familial resources

R. Bali and Feng Hou
Business and Labour Market Analysis Division
2003. Journal of Policy Studies 31(3): 309-330

Context

Many studies show that changes in family structure are detrimental to children's well-being. However, the mechanisms linking family structure and child outcomes, such as changes in economic and familial resources, are often not clearly specified.

Objectives

This article examines the effects of changes in family structure (from a family with two original parents to a lone-parent family or a step-family) on emotional-behavioural and cognitive outcomes of young children.

Findings

Compared with children in families with two original parents, those in lone-parent and step-parent families are at a disadvantage on every measure of child outcome, even when their initial disadvantages and socioeconomic background are taken into account.

The deterioration in economic resources is more important in explaining the relationship between family structure and cognitive outcomes (such as math and reading scores) but not emotional-behavioural outcomes, whereas the deterioration in familial resources-ineffective parenting and parental depression, in particular-is more important in explaining the effects on emotional-behavioural outcomes.

The scarcity of material resources mediates the relationship between family structure and cognitive outcomes, whereas the diminution of familial resources mediates the relationship between changes in family structure and emotional-behavioural outcomes.

Data sources: National Longitudinal Surveys of Children and Youth, 1994/95 – 1998/99.