According to a recent study children brought up in a single parent family are more likely to have behavioural problems by the age of 7. The statistics are 12% of children brought up by a single parent will display behavioural issues compared to 6% of children brought up in the conventional 2 parent family.

These findings are part of a study on 14,000 children born in Britain betweenthe years 2000 and 2002. Other factors that contributed to a childs behaviour were qualifications of the parents, and household incomes, these factors were said to potentially have “damaging long-term consequences” on young children.

Lisa Calderwood, from London University’s Institute of Education, said: “Living apart from natural fathers can be associated with poverty and negative outcomes for children.”

In light of the new ASBO community where many children are running wild and causing problems in local communities as well as inner cities it is no wonder researchers have been looking into what affects childrens behaviour. This is being researched further as part of the Millennium Cohort Study, which is being sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council.

In one study, researchers observed and questioned over 13,500 mothers to get more of an insight into the circumstances that affect their childs behaviour. The Mothers were asked to rate their childs hyperactivity, emotional problems, manners and conduct and relationships with other children. The results were then grouped into 3 groups ranging from ‘Normal’ to ‘Serious Behavioural Problems’.

The results of the survey found that children with lone parents or step children were more likely to be badly behaved, the figures were 15% of stepchildren and 12% of children with lone parents fell into the badly behaved category compared to only 6% of naughty children living with both natural parents. It also showed that serious behavioural problems were less common among children whose families had a higher level of parental qualifications.

Many people are calling out for more evidence to prove these facts and the difference in percentage isn’t huge not like 6% compared to say 30% or 40%.

What are your thoughts? Are you a single parent who is struggling to cope on your own with a naughty child? Do you agree that children are naughtier in single parent families? Do you think the study is hyped up propaganda to try to make us conform to the conventional two parent family?

Many single parents seem to be having problems with the CSA (Child Support Agency), the CSA are supposed to support single parents and Children and help fathers get access to their children. However admin mistakes and reportedly rude personnel is causing many single parents, men and women, to get increasingly frustrated by the agency.

I was recently browsing the internet and I came across a website called CSA Hell this reminded me of a forum thread that got started on our divorce forum a while back on the Child Support Agency, one of our forum members reported their own problems with the CSA and from the looks of www.csahell.com he is not alone in these problems.

When you split up from a relationship it is difficult to keep an amicable relationship with your ex partner, and this can have a negative effect on your children. The CSA are supposed to help make this easier but many of our forum members feel that in fact the CSA make things much harder, by interfering communication breaks down between the parents and many single dads feel their child support money is not afforfable.
Join the discussion, are you a single parent who is having problems with the CSA? Have you got horror stories to tell about poor admin, having to give up work or take cash in hand jobs to survive after the CSA take a large proportion of your earnings? Or do you love the CSA? Have you been helped out by the Child Support Agency?