Membership in a single - parent family or stepfamily is associated with increased levels of significant behavioral, emotional, and academic problems in children.1, 2 The
mechanisms underlying this connection are likely to
involve, among other factors, financial adversity, increased stress directly related to family transitions, and increased exposure to additional psychosocial risks.3, 4 Compared with the extensive research base connecting family type (ie, membership in a 2 - parent biological family, stepfamily, or single - parent family) and children's
psychological adjustment, little is known about the physical health consequences of membership in diverse family types.