Parents' relationships affect teenagers

From Science Daily Caucasian Teenagers More Damaged by Family Change Than African-American Peers

A new study from the Journal of Marriage and Family reveals that teenagers who have experienced several family changes are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviour, become sexually active early, or become parents outside of marriage, than kids who have always lived in the same family arrangement (whether with married parents or a single parent).

The researchers followed the lives of approximately 8,000 American teenagers from their adolescence in the mid-90s to young adulthood (over the course of seven years). The teenagers answered questions about their school activities, illegal behaviour, and romantic lives. Their parents provided information about their own relationship histories.

I actually think it is good news that finding out that even for single parents, as long as they don't create instability in the home life, teenagers tend to stay out of trouble. I'm not endorsing divorce or single parenting, but single parents need to be aware their future relationships affect their children. More discussion about holding off dating/live-in partners until their children are older, and prioritize stability in their home needs to be the social norm.