Negative Education Effects of Growing Up in a Fatherless Home
Children from fatherless households tend to fare worse academically for several reasons.
Single mothers headed nearly 10 million American households in 2010, according to Catalyst.org. More than 65 percent of those mothers worked outside the home to make ends meet. This, as well as availability to health insurance, a support system of extended family members, and whether or not the father contributes financially to the household, appears to affect the grades of children growing up in fatherless homes.
Financial Considerations
Often -- but not always -- absent fathers pay child support. According to Adoption.com, academic test scores of children whose fathers do not contribute financially to their households are lower than those whose fathers do. However, Adoption.com notes that fathers who do pay support usually remain more active in their children's lives, and this could have as much to do with their academic performance as overall household incomes.
Overworked Mothers
The majority of single mothers who hold down jobs have less time to spend with their children, to help with their homework and to oversee school projects. Even if they work during hours when their children are in school, they may spend their evenings catching up with chores and other family responsibilities. Adoption.com theorizes that this, too, affects their children's economic performance. Working single mothers are also less likely to be able to remain active with parent-teacher associations and parent-assisted activities at school.
Health Issues
Children in fatherless households have a higher rate of school absenteeism, according to JRank. Illnesses can result from substandard living conditions stemming from insufficient income, and from single mothers not knowing where to go for affordable health insurance. Without insurance, visits to the pediatrician can be financially prohibitive and illnesses might linger longer than they would with care and medication. The National Center for Children in Poverty reports that children who miss more than 10 percent of their classes a year score significantly lower in general knowledge, math and reading.
Social Factors
"Psychology Today" indicates that not all children from fatherless households perform poorly academically. Fatherless children who have a strong support system of extended family members, concerned teachers and family friends tend to fare better than those who do not. This may not include a mother's boyfriend or new husband, however. Adoption.com indicates that when single mothers become involved with another man, their children may actually receive even less parental support from them, especially when stepchildren are involved. Children can feel displaced and, in turn, this can result in behavioral problems and a dip in academic performance.
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