Parent Statistics

Parenting is critical to the prevention of delinquency and youth violence. Here are some facts on parenting trends in the United States:

Trends in Family Composition

The proportion of children living in single-parent homes more than doubled between 1970 and 2006 from 12% to 28%, according to the Current Population Survey (CPS). Over the 36-year period, the share of children living with only their mother rose from 10 percent to 24 percent while the share living with only their father grew from less than 2 percent to 5 percent. A never-married parent is becoming more common in single-parent homes. Between 1970 and 2006, the proportion of children living with a never-married parent increased from 7% to 42%. In 2006, almost 4 percent of children lived with other relatives (including foster parents) and fewer than than 1 percent lived with non relatives. Although there may be no direct, causal link between single parent families and youth violence, poor parenting is often identified as one of the most serious risk factors for unhealthy youth development.

Percentage of Children in Single Parent Homes: 1970-2005
	The percentage of children of all races living in single parent homes has been steadily increasing since 1970.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. Current Population Survey - Families and Living Arrangements, Historical Tables. Table CH-1: "Living Arrangements of Children Under 18 Years Old: 1960 to Present." Web-based data files available at: www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html#history.
Percentage of Children Living in Poverty: 1970-2005
	The percentage of children of all races living in poverty steadily increased from 1970-1995, but has been declining in the past decade.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. Current Population Survey - Poverty, Historical Tables. Data available at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/microdata.html
Self-Reported Substance Use by Race: 2007
	Almost half of all children in 9th-12th grades reported that they had used alcohol at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey.
Source: Centers for Disease Control: Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2007. Data file available at http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/

Relevant Statistics

Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2002

Cohabitation (unmarried partner households)

National Estimates Child Abuse & Neglect Reports  

The Living Arrangements of Children, US Census Bureau

Research on Parenting and Youth Violence

Child and Adolescent Violence Research at the NIMH

Children learn violence from parents

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids

Youth Violence: Do Parents and Families Make a Difference?

Media and Youth Violence

What is to Blame for Youth Violence?: The Media, Guns, Parenting, Poverty, Bad Programs, Or…

Media and the Developing Child

Resources for Parents

A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety

Juvenile Justice Bulletin

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

National Fatherhood Initiative

Helping Your Children Navigate Through Their Teenage Years: A Guide For Parents

Family skills training for parents and children

Know When to Seek Help for Your Child

Knowing Where To Find Help For Your Child

The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania