Single Parenting: Impact on Child’s Development

Abstract

Age-old societal beliefs are being challenged and constantly changing with urbanization, industrialization, and modernization, which have blurred the typical family gender roles and structure. The studies conducted 2 to 3 decades back showed that family instability can negatively affect children’s development. The absence or loss of one parent and conflicts between separated and divorced parents affect not only the child’s mental health but also the child’s physical health, overall growth, and future relationships. Single parents are often overburdened with the responsibilities of 2 parents, face social stigma, and lack social support, as a result they have difficulty spending time with their children. Hence children of single parents have poor academic performance, decreased social interactions, emotional and behavioral problems. Newer research has focused on the positive outcomes and protective factors that can steer the child towards better outcome. We need to focus on such protective and resilience-building factors to help the child adjust in the short and long run.

Communication in the family and children’s deviant behavior in single parent families

“…This disappointment with the family situation is channeled by children through deviant behavior as a place to find release and pleasure (Riestyantomo & Pratiwi 2020, Fransiska et al 2022, Astriani 2023. Based on the results of research on children's deviant behavior in single parents, it can be concluded that the factors that cause children to commit deviant behavior are caused by two things, namely disappointment with the situation in the family and the environment of peers who tend to behave deviantly (Riestyantomo & Pratiwi 2020, Sillekens & Notten 2020, Fransiska et al 2022, Chavda & Nisarga 2023.…”

“…Family disintegration has a major influence on children's behavior (Hasanah 2020, Mahnunin & Ridjal 2021. Research conducted two to three decades ago shows that family instability can have a negative impact on child development, one of which is deviant behavior by children (Mulidah & Saleh 2022, Chavda & Nisarga 2023. Most children in single parent families experience deviant behavior on indicators of low regulation and discipline, tolerance, and the use of critical thinking to solve problems (Rasmini 2023).…”

“…In addition, children who come from imperfect families will also be very vulnerable to deviant behavior at school, such as lazy learning, like being alone, behaving aggressively, skipping school and like to defy teachers (Mulidah & Saleh 2022). Based on the results of research by (Chavda & Nisarga 2023) also shows that family disintegration not only has an impact on children's mental health, but also on children's physical health, overall growth, and future relationships. In this case, the position and function of the family plays a very important and fundamental role in the formation of children's behavior because the family is the first place in the formation of children's personality (Anggita et al 2021).…”

“…Apart from disappointment with the family situation, children's deviant behavior in single parent families is also caused by environmental factors of their peers (Riestyantomo & Pratiwi 2020, Sillekens & Notten 2020, Chavda & Nisarga 2023. Peer factors are very easy to influence a child's life, especially if the child is experiencing disappointment or emotions from the reality of the life he is experiencing.…”

“…This condition will cause children to be very vulnerable to falling into inappropriate relationships (Riestyantomo & Pratiwi 2020). Based on the results of research (Chavda & Nisarga 2023) it shows that having deviant friends will be more dangerous for children who grow up in disappointing family situations. With this, peers can easily influence children with just an invitation (Anggita et al 2021).…”