Summarised by Centrist
In a study of US cities in the state of Ohio, Nicholas Zill, for the Institute for Family Studies, found violent crime rates lower in areas where two-parent households were the norm.
For instance, Springfield and Cleveland, where less than half of mothers were married, reported violent crime rates of 1,298 and 1,895 incidents per 100,000 residents, respectively.
In contrast, Cleveland Heights, where 63% of mothers were married, reported just 267 incidents, and New Albany, with a staggering 91% of mothers married, had only 99 incidents.
This trend is backed by decades of research linking fatherless homes to social issues. Journalist Timothy Goeglein quotes former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel: “Our kids need [faith and family] structure…a moral compass that allows kids to know good from bad and right from wrong.”
A 2000 study from Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania showed young men from fatherless homes are twice as likely to end up in jail.
Single-parent households often lack the balance fathers bring, which researchers link to behavioural challenges. Fatherless girls may struggle with depression or promiscuity, while boys often manifest anger and aggression, contributing to violence and abuse.
The ripple effects of single-parent homes extend to substance abuse, coupled with perpetuating cycles of family dysfunction and single parenthood. “It is a triple whammy resulting in a downward spiral of despair with each succeeding generation,” writes Goeglein.
Editor’s Note: While this study explores the link between family structure, poverty, and violent crime accounts for some factors like education and employment, it doesn’t clearly adjust for income or wealth when analysing crime rates. This means the connection between single parenthood and crime might reflect broader issues rather than a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Readers should keep this in mind when interpreting the findings.
