Family breakdown: Half of children live across more than one household
Almost half of children do not stay with both parents throughout childhood Figures show growing numbers of youngsters live across more than one home. According to the ONS, one in four families is headed by a lone parentHowever a review has found the figure could be in reality be as high as one in three.
The scale of family breakdown has been laid bare by figures showing almost half of children do not stay with both throughout parents childhood.
A major report reveals that growing numbers of youngsters live across more than one household with separations becoming ‘quite common’.
According to the Office for National Statistics one in four families is headed by a lone parent, 90 per cent of whom are women. However, a review into contemporary family life, commissioned by the Government, has found the figure could in reality be as high as one in three.
The report from Rachel de Souza (pictured), the children’s commissioner for England, stresses that families have a crucial ‘protective effect’ that help shield people in times of crisis and can improve happiness levels and even future earnings.
The stark statistics
In 23 per cent of UK families are headed by a lone parent, compared with an EU average of 13 per cent. Around 90 per cent are women.
In 44 per cent of people born in 2000-01 did not live with both their parents throughout their entire childhood.
In Getting on ‘very well’ with either parent aged 13 is associated with higher wages at the age of 25.
In 25 per cent of parents reported their relationships with children had become better during lockdown. Fewer than 5 per cent said the situation had become worse.
In The amount of time fathers spent on unpaid childcare rose from 47 minutes a day in 2014-15 to 90 minutes a day during lockdown. It has fallen back to 56 minutes in 2022.
The report from Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, stresses that families have a crucial ‘protective effect’ that help shield people in times of crisis and can improve happiness levels and even future earnings.
Dame Rachel will today urge the next prime minister to put family ‘at the heart of all policy decisions’.
She said: ‘Having a stable and supportive family, whatever form that takes, can determine a child’s future success. Children with happy families do better in their exams, go on to get better jobs, and have higher hourly income at the age of 25. Family can insulate us from life’s adversity and challenges.’
The review examined the wellbeing of family members, long-term results for children and the ‘ability of the family to withstand challenges’. It found that those who can turn to their family in times of crisis experience higher overall levels of wellbeing.
Among adults who rely on their family ‘a lot’ if they have a serious problem, 80 per cent were satisfied with life overall, according to analysis of data from an annual academic study called Understanding Society. This compared with 66 per cent for those didn’t have a supportive network around them.
The review cites the Millennium Cohort Study of 19,000 youngsters from birth to age 17 showing that 44 per cent didn’t live with both their biological parents throughout their entire childhood. A separate analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England showed that getting on ‘very well’ with either parent at age 13 was associated with better wages in adulthood.
The review tracked nearly 5,000 young people into adulthood and found those who could boast strong early family relationships went on to earn 2 per cent higher salaries by age 25.
The children’s commissioner’s review analyzed existing data, in addition to surveying thousands of parents and children, and found ‘diverse, changing patterns of family composition’.
