The Institute
for American Values, drawing on research
by Paul R. Amato, has published a
fascinating list showing the real
cost of society's retreat from a traditional
family structure in recent decades.
By comparing
the known rates of certain pathologies
among children raised by their own,
married biological mother and father
to the rates among those raised in
other households, and then
extrapolating that data to the population
as a whole, Amato has calculated the
precise cost of "alternative"
family forms.
The report says,
"If U.S. Family Structure Was
as Strong Today as It Was in 1970:
643,000 fewer children each year would
fail a grade at school
1,040,000 fewer children each year
would be suspended from school
531,000 fewer children each year would
need psychotherapy
453,000 fewer children each year would
be involved in violence
515,000 fewer children each year would
be cigarette smokers
179,000 fewer children each year would
consider suicide
71,000 fewer children each year would
attempt suicide"
Source: Paul R. Amato, "The Impact
of Family Formation Change on the
Cognitive, Social,
and Emotional
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