 |
|
For struggling single moms, 3-generation households are better than 2
August 04, 2009Presence of just 1 grandparent reduces likelihood of child poverty by 80 percent
Living in a three-generation household can significantly enhance the economic well-being of children, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Southern California and the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Their findings, to appear in the November 2009 Journal of Family Issues and now available online, indicate children living in single-mother families that also include a grandparent are substantially less likely to be living below or near the poverty line compared to children living in mother-only homes.
"The implications of this research are particularly salient as we are facing an unprecedented economic crisis in the United States " said Lindsey A. Baker of the USC Davis School of Gerontology, co-author of the study. "Multigenerational co-residence will likely be a strategy used by many to deal with financial hardship caused by the loss of a job, house or retirement savings.
In the United States, more than six million children under the age of 18 live with at least one grandparent. Of these children, 2.5 million are part of a single-mother family that includes the child's mother as well as one or more grandparents.
Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation from 2001, the researchers found that the presence of just one grandparent makes the odds of living below the poverty line 80% lower than for children living without a grandparent, and children living with two grandparents are at an even greater advantage.
In the United States, the average income of a family with two grandparents is more than double the income of a single-mother household with no grandparents ($63,635 compared to $27, 619), the researchers found.
In addition, the study also reveals that the largest single source of income in single-mother, three-generation homes is the contributions of grandparents, including cash transfers and Social Security income, Baker said.
"The pooling of resources has long been identified as a benefit of household extension," said lead author Jan E. Mutchler of the University of Massachusetts, Boston. "The easing of financial difficulties has been highlighted as an important goal motivating the formation of multigenerational households. Grandparents are often the first families members called upon when families are troubled or in need."
University of Southern California
"The implications of this research are particularly salient as we are facing an unprecedented economic crisis in the United States " said Lindsey A. Baker of the USC Davis School of Gerontology, co-author of the study. "Multigenerational co-residence will likely be a strategy used by many to deal with financial hardship caused by the loss of a job, house or retirement savings.
In the United States, more than six million children under the age of 18 live with at least one grandparent. Of these children, 2.5 million are part of a single-mother family that includes the child's mother as well as one or more grandparents.
Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation from 2001, the researchers found that the presence of just one grandparent makes the odds of living below the poverty line 80% lower than for children living without a grandparent, and children living with two grandparents are at an even greater advantage.
In the United States, the average income of a family with two grandparents is more than double the income of a single-mother household with no grandparents ($63,635 compared to $27, 619), the researchers found.
In addition, the study also reveals that the largest single source of income in single-mother, three-generation homes is the contributions of grandparents, including cash transfers and Social Security income, Baker said.
"The pooling of resources has long been identified as a benefit of household extension," said lead author Jan E. Mutchler of the University of Massachusetts, Boston. "The easing of financial difficulties has been highlighted as an important goal motivating the formation of multigenerational households. Grandparents are often the first families members called upon when families are troubled or in need."
University of Southern California
More Single-mother Current Events and Single-mother News Articles
 |
The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns by Andrea Engber (Author), Leah Klungness (Author) Being a single mother isn't easy-but with The Complete Single Mother, Third Edition, it just got easier. Long the most popular source of encouragement and advice for single moms, this engaging, enlightening guide explores such important issues as: Finances Dealing with the absent father Custody Dating and remarriage With a new chapter devoted to children with special needs, as well as inspirational sidebars about famous single mothers, this updated classic is the supportive, one-stop handbook you'll turn to again and again! |
 |
Single Mothers by Choice: A Guidebook for Single Women Who Are Considering or Have Chosen Motherhood by Jane Mattes (Author) The first handbook for the rapidly growing number of American women choosing single motherhood, written by the director of the national organization Single Mothers by Choice. Mattes presents an accessible and personal analysis of the available options and examines the problems, questions and rewards. |
 |
The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys by Gina Panettieri (Author), Philip S. Hall (Author) As a single mother to a growing son, you take on many roles: coach, chef, cheerleader, buddy, housekeeper, teacher, disciplinarian, and nurturer. The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys helps you juggle all these roles with aplomb. You'll also learn how to help your son: Succeed at school Excel on the sports field Find an appropriate male role model Socialize and combat peer pressure Deal with sex, drugs, and video games Complete with resources and recommended strategies for every stage of a boy's life, The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys helps you go it alone-and raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted young man! |
 |
Raising Great Kids on Your Own: A Guide and Companion for Every Single Parent by David Frisbie (Author), Lisa Frisbie (Author) One–parent households frame the new landscape of American family life. But raising kids alone is hard work, and single parenting is a struggle for most. David and Lisa Frisbie provide a practical and proactive plan single moms or single dads can use to... nourish their own souls, maintaining a vibrant faith in God and a vital connection to family and friends nurture their children, empowering kids to successfully process the trauma of divorce manage their households as they assume roles and tasks that may lie well outside their comfort zone build a future they can enjoy, making choices about education, careers, finances, and relationshipsThe Frisbies’ constant travel and ongoing counseling ministry provide a rich reservoir of effective strategies and ideas.... |
 |
Klimt - Mother & Child Switch Plate - Single Toggle by Art Plates Each switch plate is individually handcrafted using a classic decoupage technique, and sealed with a shiny smooth finish to prevent scratching or water damage. Every Art Plate comes beautifully packaged in see-through packaging, ready for gift giving! Screws included. |
 |
The Single Mother's Survival Guide by Patrice Karst (Author) In this engaging journey of self-discovery, Patrice Karst, a single mother, shares her practical yet witty advice with single moms everywhere. She covers a wide range of topics that concern the modern woman struggling without a mate, showing how it's possible not only to survive but to triumph. The book features dozens of quick "survival checklists" on topics such as dealing with exhaustion and reasons to be happy about being a single mom. Karst's "Ten Commandments for Single Mothers" begins with "Thou shalt not be afraid to ask for help from anyone at any time (because the offers sure as hell won't come in by themselves)." The Single Mother's Survival Guide also includes wisdom and inspiration for the single mother, touching on goals and dreams, affirmations, and gratitude. |
 |
The Courage To Be a Single Mother: Becoming Whole Again After Divorce by Sheila Ellison (Author) Putting the Pieces Back Together Step One: I Do Love Myself Four simple steps. A world of truth. At last, a source of compassion and support for divorced mothers facing the realities of raising children when their lives are at their most vulnerable and their self-images at their most fragile. Filled with more than a book on coping -- it is a source of understanding, encouragement, and strength that will help single women to nurture their children, resurrect their spirits, and create the life they want. |
 |
Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman's Guide by Mikki Morrissette (Author) The comprehensive guide for single women interested in proactively becoming and being a mother—includes the essential tools needed to decide whether to take this step, information on how best to follow through, and insight about answering the child’s questions and needs over time. Choosing Single Motherhood, written by a longtime journalist and Choice Mother (a woman who chooses to conceive or adopt without a life partner), will become the indispensable tool for women looking for both support and insight. Based on extensive up-to-date research, advice from child experts and family therapists, as well as interviews with more than one hundred single women, this book explores • common questions and concerns of women facing this decision, including: Can I afford to do... |
 |
Budd Leather Mother Pearl Single Lipstick Holder (As Shown) by Budd Leather |
 |
Choosing You: Deciding to Have a Baby on My Own by Alexandra Soiseth (Author) All her adult life, Alexandra Soiseth has wanted a husband, children, dogs and cats—a busy, loving, home. But at thirty-nine, with no husband on the horizon, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She googles for sperm. Choosing You is Alexandra's memoir. With humor and heart, she shares the often gut-wrenching reality she faces in having a baby on her own—a mother and father who disapprove, friends who think she's crazy, a society that thinks she's selfish. But it is her struggle with weight and self image, possible infertility, and the terror of bringing a child into this world without a father that almost stops her from getting what she wants most—a family. Alexandra's story shows us all that with a little guts, a lot of love, and the internet,... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |