Kids With Married Parents at Lower Risk for Sex, Drugs

Children whose parents live together but aren't married are more likely to engage in risky behaviors compared to children of married parents, according to a Canadian study.

Researchers at the Institute of Marriage and Family used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, checking on them at ages 6 to 11 and then again at ages 14 to 19. The ones who lived with unmarried parents were more likely to smoke, deal drugs, be sexually active, and have poor relationships with their parents. Almost half (49 percent) of the children ages 6 to 9 years old whose parents were unmarried lived with only one biological parent.

Married couples tended to be better educated, older, and more likely to be religious.

Labels: behaviors, parents, risks

posted by Aspen Education Group @ 9:25 PM