ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ONE- AND TWO-PARENT LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
Abstract
One-parent households are a phenomenon of increasing importance in the United States. In 1983, one-parent households represented nearly 20 percent of family households and the number of one-parent households more than doubled between 1970 and 1983. Information is lacking about the economic status and demographic characteristics of these households. The purposes of the present study were to compare components of economic status for one-parent and two-parent low income households and to analyze models of economic well-being with one-parent status as a variable and other factors affecting economic status are held constant. Data in these analyses were collected under the auspices of the North Central Regional Research Project (NC-152). The sample of 494 low income households with children included 247 one-parent and 247 two-parent households in four states--California, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. Economic differences between one- and two-parent low income households were examined using univariate and multivariate analysis. Four models of economic well-being were tested and household type was found significantly related to variations in money income, augmented income, financial problems, and perceptions of income adequacy. When other factors were held constant, one-parent households reported lower money income, lower augmented income, lower perceptions of income adequacy, but lower frequency of financial problems. Because one-parent households are more likely than two-parent households to be below the poverty level and receive government cash or in-kind assistance, the relationship between food stamp program participation and non participation was examined. Household type, in combination with other variables, was found to contribute significantly to differences between food stamp program participants and non participants. The findings of this study have implications for government policymakers, financial and family counselors, consumer educators, and family economics theorists. Results indicate that models of well-being are insufficient without single-parent status which has a time resource constraint affecting opportunity for all types of income.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Home economics|Welfare|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology|Economics
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.