The effects of early childbearing on a woman's later social and economic status are examined in this paper. Previous research has documented an association of early motherhood with lower educational attainment, marital instability, higher subsequent fertility, and later economic poverty. However, these associations have not been tested in…

Research supported by Public Health Service Predoctoral Research Fellowship 1-F1-MH-32, 808-01, from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Baker's Elementary School in Halifax County, North Carolina, has an all-black, rural student population, about 52 percent of whom live with both parents, 32 percent with one parent (mother only) and 16 percent with their grandparents. Data on the students' academic achievement indicated that in the language arts area, children from one parent…

AFTER WORKING WITH ADOLESCENT, NEGRO GIRLS FROM 12 TO 20 YEARS OF AGE, ONE SOCIAL WORKER MADE SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE GIRLS. ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE GIRLS ARE IN PERPETUAL MOVEMENT AND THEIR ATTENTION SPAN IS VERY SHORT. MANY OF THE GIRLS HAVE VERY INDIRECT AND LIMITED COMMUNICATION WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT…

This summary of data on female-headed households indicates that most live in housing that is older and less adequate than that of the general population; the housing units are more often rented than owned; and women in this category must spend a greater proportion of their income on housing than does the general population. Data also show that if…

Indicates that male teachers had no significant effect upon the reading achievement of 193 sixth-grade boys and suggests pursuing other strategies to help such boys improve their reading achievement scores. (RL)

The article presents the goals, methods, and case examples of The Nutury, a predominantly male-staffed child care center serving single-parent children. The primary goal is to provide consistent relationships with men for children without a male model in their home. Clinical observations reveal positive life-styles and attitudes. (LPG)

Reviews literature indicating detrimental effects of father absence on children's cognitive development as assessed by standardized IQ tests, standardized achievement tests, and school performance. (BD)

A review of the literature on encopresis shows strong emphasis on father-absence as a dominant factor. Other characteristics of patients and their families are listed, and theoretical considerations discussed. (MS)

Differences between father-absent and father-present samples were not large. Although study quality was not the best predictor of outcome, the best-quality studies produced nonsignificant estimates of effect size. Most effect-size estimates were less than .5; many were much smaller. (RH)

Discusses the claim that little has been done by health, social work, and educational professionals to speak up about the fact that children born out-of-wedlock lack the economic and psychological benefits that attach to the right to legal paternity. (RWB)

Among 30 families who received parent training, children's behavior improved significantly. Data showed significant increases in mothers' praises and reductions in mothers' negative behavior, children's non-compliance and deviance. Reductions in non-compliance and deviance were found 1-year later. Significantly more of the mother/child dyads who…

This study examined predictors of father involvement and father-mother discrepancies in reports of involvement within a low-income, predominantly minority sample of families with both residential and nonresidential fathers. The study used matched pairs of fathers and mothers with preschool children from the first wave of Welfare, Children, and…

Gang membership and violence are pervasive across the United States. Today children, adolescents and young adults of all social classes and environments are susceptible to gang involvement. Gang members are getting younger and gang leaders are getting older. The composition and structure of the family is examined for the common element between…

This study examines whether children born outside of marriage and currently living in single-mother families are more likely to be poor than children in single-mother families who were born to married parents. Using the 1997 National Survey of America's Families, the study finds that among children living with single mothers, those born outside of…