Children From Fatherless Homes Most at Risk for Mental Health, Behavioral Issues: Report

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Roughly one in four U.S. children are living in fatherless homes, causing undeniable negative effects on the childrenโ€™s behavior and mental health, according to a report published by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI).

Comparing several dozen studies conducted from 1987 up to 2022, the AFPIโ€”a non-partisan research institute working โ€œto advance policies that put the American people firstโ€โ€”found clear correlations between children raised in fatherless homes and developmental challenges ranging from bad grades, anxiety, and suicide to violent behavior, drug use, and criminality.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 18.3 million children across America live without a father in the home, comprising about one in four American children. Eighty percent of single-parent homes are fatherless.

โ€œChildren with an actively engaged father perform much better in school,โ€ the AFPI noted, being 33 percent less likely to repeat a class and 43 percent more likely to score top grades.

With fathers present at home, data suggest that the average school-aged boy spends 30 minutes per week in one-on-one conversations with his father, while spending 40โ€“60 hours per week online, playing video games, or watching TV.

Still, even that much time together would seem to make a world of difference. The report said the effect of fathers being absent was โ€œstaggering,โ€ with their children having far worse overall mental health and behavior.

โ€œThese children are often burdened with lower self-esteem than other children, and they do not understand why their fathers abandoned them. This leads to a number of emotional problems like anxiety, social withdrawal, and depression, and it also leads to an increased risk of suicide and other forms of self-harm,โ€ the AFPI wrote.

Data from the Department of Justice suggest thatโ€”even though this group comprises just a quarter of all youthโ€”63 percent of youth suicides occur in fatherless homes, as do 85 percent of children with behavioral disorders.

The link to crime and incarceration is also clear. โ€œSome data suggests that fatherless kids are 20 times more likely to be incarcerated,โ€ the report states.

By Wim De Gent

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

250 Countdown

Those 56 intrepid men who signed put their very lives, honor and fortunes on the line. There was no auto-quill to accommodate their signatures.ย 

How the Senate Parliamentarian Changed the OBBB

An unelected bureaucrat does a important job in the U.S. Senate. Elizabeth MacDonough enforces senate rules on Trumpโ€™s โ€œOne Big Beautiful Billโ€.

Bioterror Roundup: CDC Director Nominee Is a Monster + New mRNA Pregnancy Studies

Bioterror Propaganda Roundup: The latest updates on the โ€œnew...

The Sacred Honor of the 56

Today we're celebrating the sacred honor of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Alligator Alcatraz: A Bold Step Toward Secure Borders

Alligator Alcatraz funded through FEMA, represents a decisive move by the Trump admin to address illegal immigration with efficiency and resolve.

New White House Faith Office Aims to Ensure US Is Beacon of Freedom for Others

The White House Faith Office wants to see the United States as the leader in advancing religious freedom, its faith director Jennifer Korn said.

Federal Reserve Rates Are Too High, Says Former World Bank Chief

Rates should be between 0.25 and 1.75 percent rather...

Newly Naturalized Citizens Say What American Freedom Means to Them

Nearly 820,000 people pledged allegiance to the United States and became naturalized citizens in 2024.

Noem Waives Environmental Restrictions to Fast-Track Water Barriers in Rio Grande

DHS Sec Kristi Noem waived federal environmental laws to fast-track construction of 17 miles of waterborne barriers in the Rio Grande in South Texas.

Trump Indicates Legislation for Hiring Illegal Aliens on Farms

Trump to allow illegal immigrants who work on farms to continue working to prevent unnecessary disruptions to farming across the country.

US Keeps Pressure on Chinese Goods Amid Vietnam Trade Deal

Transshippingโ€”rerouting goods through a third country to disguise the origin of the productsโ€”is a focal point of trade negotiations with Asian markets.

White House Report Reveals Top Earners, Staffers Working for No Salary

The Trump admin released its yearly report that shows the salaries for White House staffers, also revealing officials who arenโ€™t accepting salaries at all.

Transportation Secretary Urges Governors to Remove Political Messages From Crosswalks, Intersections

Duffy sent letters to governors, mayor of D.C., and gov of Puerto Rico urging them to remove political messaging from intersections and crosswalks.
spot_img

Related Articles