The effort to promote marriage is linked to the well-being of children because public opinion and research findings have suggests that children who live with their married parents fare better than those in other types of family structures do. Various research findings suggest that living in an alternative family arrangement, particularly in single-mother households, can reduce the monetary resources, parental time and material resources that are available to children, thus placing them at a disadvantage.

On the other hand, there is the opposing argument that questions whether the same positive outcomes would apply to children who live with parents whose marriages are unstable. Some research findings have indicated that even prior to actual divorce or separation, the wellbeing of the children involved is negatively affected due to them living in an unstable and stressful environment.
Divorce reform policies have become a major political and social agenda based on the belief that decrease in the divorce rate will promote the well-being of families in general, and result in positive political and social outcomes. This bottom line however is that laws are limited in restricting marital behavior, and therefore cannot depict how married couples interact behind closed doors. Therefore, the lingering question is…Are All Marriages Worth Saving????

Teenage single mothers who solicit family members to assist them in their parenting responsibilities often do not neglect their children (Worth, 1992). Maternal grandmothers commonly play an instrumental role in supporting teenage single mothers in the care of their children. They usually provide housing, monetary support or childcare assistance; and in many situations, assume the role of the co-parent. The involvement of maternal grandmothers can either impede or promote father involvement depending on how secure the relationship allows the adolescent mother feel in her ability to raise her child.

Although reports indicate that the rate of teenage pregnancies have stabilized in the last few years, adolescent single-parent families exist in every community, and confront unique problems that are often difficult to address. According to Developmental Specialists, pairing adolescence with the responsibilities of motherhood places teenage mothers at emotional risk and compromises their development.

Assuming a parenting role at such a young age is an overwhelming experience for all teenage mothers. They struggle with negotiating their own physical, social, and psychological developmental changes while supporting the developmental of a child. However, those who are developmentally more advanced are usually more successful at parenting (Eshbaugh, Lempers & Luze, 2006).

Many teenage single mothers drop out of school once they become pregnant. They ultimately become socially isolated, experience loneliness and feelings of failure, and are uncertain about their future. Lack of acceptance from family members makes a teenage single mother vulnerable to future pregnancies and places her at risk for academic failures. On the other hand, if supported in their parenting role, a teenage single mother is usually willing to return to school, complete her education and achieve her long-term goals.

Contrary to the perception of many, the teenage single-mother population does not primarily comprise of black, urban girls, but includes girls of all races and classes from urban and non-urban communities. Moreover, research findings reveals that in the United States, the teenage single -parent population is greater in non-urban areas, especially among African American teenagers who reside in low-income households (Eshbaugh, Lempers & Luze, 2006).

The social environment, positive relationships, the availability of supports, and how the teenage single mother views her situation influences her ability to be an effective parent. Those who maintain a positive outlook on parenting while embracing the sacrifices that they are required to make are more likely to feel a sense of accomplishment instead of failure in there parenting role. Moreover, they acquire positive role identity, increased stability, and secure bonds with their children. Teenage single- mothers are different from other teenagers and other single parents because they face the challenge of balancing their adolescent impulses with the responsibilities of parenting.

The stress of having to find ways to provide food, shelter and clothing for the family consequently places single parents at risk of becoming detached from their children, and compromises their ability to effectively parent. Effective parenting is characterized by consistent supervision and monitoring of children’s activities, emotional support, discipline, direct interactions, displays of affection, and secure attachment.
John Bowlby’s attachment theory suggests that secure attachment between parents and children make parenting easier. On the other hand, insecure attachment (which is likely to be seen in the relationships between absent single parents and their children) can result in the ineffectiveness of parenting strategies, and an overwhelming amount of stress on parents as they endeavor to carry out their parenting responsibilities.

Family disruption, regardless of the circumstances often occurs after family conflict, leads to unexpected change, and is often the source of loss and grief. Traumatic experiences such as broken homes and family dysfunction results in depressive symptoms. Moreover, studies have also associated broken homes and family dysfunction to mental and physical health issues.

Like individuals who lose their partners as a result of death, those who experience divorce also go through a healing process which is exemplified through denial, guilt, anger, depression and isolation. Some victims of family disruption seek healing by engaging in risky behaviors that serve to numb their pain such as drug and alcohol use and thus, further compromise their emotional health, while also risking their physical health.
According to theoretical perspective of Sigmund Freud, the human psyche is by nature pleasure seeking. This therefore implies that in situations of emotional crisis and sadness it is an appropriate response for a single parent who is experiencing the pain of separation to resort to behaviors, which although may be risky, provides her with the gratification she may need to deal with the pain.

In order to take care of their family’s needs, single parents rely on a plethora of external supports in. They solicit the support of friends and family, and the social welfare system. Results of studies indicate that a high percentage of single parents are welfare dependent, particularly those who have minimal education and are unable to acquire a job that supports the cost of childcare in addition to the other needs of their families.

For years, policy makers have focused on weaning single parents off welfare and empowering them to become more self-reliant. Even though they have advocated that work force participation is the antidote to welfare dependency, they struggle in their efforts to encourage some single parents to deviate from the complacency of not having to work and unemployment among single mothers is very profound.

There is a theoretical argument why some single parents prefer to be dependent on the social welfare system instead of going to work. B.F. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning suggests that individuals tend to repeat behaviors that lead to favorable results. Therefore, aligned with Skinner’s theory is the notion that due to the positive reinforcement of single parents’ welfare dependency, they are resistant to becoming self reliant because they have experienced that being on welfare will allowed the opportunity for them to parent their children while being afforded the means to address additional family needs. Furthermore, childcare issues and single parents’ inability to manage their time between parenting and work responsibilities negate the efforts to encourage single-mother self-reliance.

Studies reveal that most single mothers who opt to obtain full-time employment and get off welfare ultimately earn only a minute amount more than welfare recipients which is used for additional expenses related to them working such as childcare and transportation costs.