Does Single Parenthood Increase the Probability of Teenage Promiscuity, Substance Use, and Crime?

Document Type

Article

Department

Economics (CMC)

Publication Date

2-2007

Abstract

There is longstanding evidence that youths raised by single parents are more likely to perform poorly in school and partake in “deviant” behaviors such as smoking, sex, substance use, and crime. However, there is not widespread agreement as to whether the timing of the marital disruption differentially impacts youth outcomes. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and its Young Adult Supplement, we find that an additional 5 years with the biological father decreases the probability of smoking, drinking, engaging in sexual activity, marijuana use, and conviction by approximately 5.3, 1.2, 3.4, 2.2 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively.

Comments

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag

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