Does family policy environment moderate the effect of single-parenthood on children's academic achievement? A study of 14 European countries

Hampden-Thompson, Gillian; Pong, Suet-Ling

Abstract

This paper examines whether national family and welfare policies reduce or exacerbate the effects of single-parenthood on a child's educational achievement. Using the Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), we compare 5th grade students from English single-parent families with their counterparts from 13 other European countries. The analysis results suggest that the achievement gap between students from twoparent and single-parent families is far greater in England than it is in all other countries, with the exception of Scotland. The evidence provided in this study suggests that a nation's family policy environment plays an important role in moderating the influence of single-parenthood on children's academic achievement.

Citation

Hampden-Thompson, G., & Pong, S. (2005). Does family policy environment moderate the effect of single-parenthood on children's academic achievement? A study of 14 European countries. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 36, 227--248

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2005
• Deposit Date: Oct 18, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Comparative Family Studies
• Print ISSN: 0047-2328
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 36
• Pages: 227--248
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1728067
• Publisher URL: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/51414/