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One-parent families on the rise One-parent families on the rise
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Britons are increasingly likely to live in single-parent families, stay at home for longer, marry later and struggle to afford a house, official figures show.Britons are increasingly likely to live in single-parent families, stay at home for longer, marry later and struggle to afford a house, official figures show.
The Office for National Statistics said children in Great Britain are three times more likely to live in one-parent households now than they were in 1972.The Office for National Statistics said children in Great Britain are three times more likely to live in one-parent households now than they were in 1972.
Last year almost 60% of men and 40% of women aged between 20 and 24 in England still lived with their parents.Last year almost 60% of men and 40% of women aged between 20 and 24 in England still lived with their parents.
The department's annual Social Trends report studies patterns in UK society.The department's annual Social Trends report studies patterns in UK society.
Among the findings this year was that wages rose on average by 92% from 1995 to 2005, but house prices rocketed by 204%.Among the findings this year was that wages rose on average by 92% from 1995 to 2005, but house prices rocketed by 204%.
As a result, more young people were continuing to live with their parents until their mid-20s. HAVE YOUR SAY It's unfair to blame single parents for the ills of society Lindsay Wall, Bristol class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6013&edition=1&ttl=20070411090323">Send us your comments
HAVE YOUR SAY I grew up in a single parent family from the age of 11 and it hasn't harmed me at all Edna Welthorp , UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6013&edition=1&ttl=20070411090323">Send us your comments The report also linked the rise in adults living with their parents to the numbers of further education students - trebling between 1971 and 2005. Stephen Evans, chief economist with the Social Market Foundation, said problems getting on the property ladder were partly to blame for young people leaving home later, but insisted there was an element of choice involved too.
Stephen Evans, chief economist with the Social Market Foundation, said: "Young people are making a choice to stay at home longer, they're making a choice to extend their education because they know that they're going to get higher earnings in the long run." "They're making a choice to extend their education because they know that they're going to get higher earnings in the long run."
Changing familiesChanging families
Since 1971 the proportion of all people living in "traditional" family households of married couples with dependent children has fallen from 52% to 37%.Since 1971 the proportion of all people living in "traditional" family households of married couples with dependent children has fallen from 52% to 37%.
"Recent decades have seen marked changes in household patterns," the report said. Over the same period, the proportion of people living in couples with no children rose from 19% to 25%.
"The traditional family household of a married couple with a child or children is less common, while there has been an increase in lone-parent households." Nearly a quarter of children lived with only one parent last year and nine out of 10 of those households were headed by lone mothers.
SOCIAL TRENDS SURVEY - KEY FINDINGS In 2005 there were a record 60.2m people living in BritainBetween 1971 and 2006 the number of UK households jumped 30% but the population only increased by 8% One in seven children live in households where no parent is workingThe expected number of years spent in poor health rose from 6.4 to 8.8 for men and 10.1 to 10.6 for women between 1981 and 2002Between December 2005 and September 2006 there were 15,700 same-sex civil partnerships Source: Office for National Statistics SOCIAL TRENDS SURVEY - KEY FINDINGS In 2005 there were a record 60.2m people living in BritainBetween 1971 and 2006 the number of UK households rose 30% but the population only rose by 8% One in seven children live in households where no parent is workingThe expected number of years spent in poor health rose from 6.4 to 8.8 for men and 10.1 to 10.6 for women between 1981 and 2002Between December 2005 and September 2006 there were 15,700 same-sex civil partnerships Source: Office for National Statistics
The report found that mothers headed nine out of 10 single-parent families, and lone parents were three times more likely to live in rented accommodation than traditional families. Sue Palmer, an independent education adviser, said she believed growing up with a single parent could be detrimental to children.
Sue Palmer, an independent education adviser, said she believed being raised by a single parent could be detrimental to children. "It's not many adults....what you need when children are growing up is constant consistent care from the adults who love them and that's very difficult to provide if there's just one of you," she said.
"It's not many adults.... what you need when children are growing up is constant consistent care from the adults who love them and that's very difficult to provide if there's just one of you," she said. David Green, director of the Institute for the Study of Civil Society, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If you take almost any measure - how well children do in school, whether they turn to crime, whether they commit suicide, etc - it's better to have two parents.
More children are born in Britain today outside of marriage than in most other European countries, the report said. "It's also the biggest disadvantage of lone parenthood that you're much more likely to be poor."
Lone living
More children are born in Britain today outside of marriage than in most other European countries, the report also said.
The average figure is 44%, compared with just 3% in Cyprus, and just 12% in Britain in the early 1970s.The average figure is 44%, compared with just 3% in Cyprus, and just 12% in Britain in the early 1970s.
BBC home editor Mark Easton said that in Wales and the north east of England the numbers of children born to unmarried parents were even higher, at 52% and 55% respectively.
According to the data, the proportion of under-fives at school had increased threefold, from 21% in 1971 to 64% last year.
And children are increasingly technology-savvy, with around 50% of eight to 11-year-olds having their own mobile phones.
Increasing illness
But the ONS statistics showed that people in Great Britain are more sickly now than they were in 1981.
READ THE REPORT Social Trends report [3MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE REPORT Social Trends report [3MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
In 1981, men would spend on average 6.4 years of their lifetime ill, but by 2002 the figure had risen to 8.8 years. In the same period, the figures for women rose from 10.1 years to 10.6. BBC home editor Mark Easton said that in Wales and the north east of England the numbers of children born to unmarried parents were even higher, at 52% and 55% respectively.
More than seven million people in Britain also live alone now, compared with three million in 1971.More than seven million people in Britain also live alone now, compared with three million in 1971.
This, the report said, had left societies more fragmented and led to much less trust and co-operation between neighbours.This, the report said, had left societies more fragmented and led to much less trust and co-operation between neighbours.
Other findings included:Other findings included:
  • In 2006, first-time home buyers paid an average of £141,229 compared with £46,489 in 1991.
  • Second marriages made up two-fifths of all marriages in 2005.
  • Second marriages made up two-fifths of all marriages in 2005.
  • In the same year, the average age at first marriage in England and Wales was 32 for men and 29 for women - up from 25 and 23 respectively in 1971.
  • In the same year, the average age at first marriage in England and Wales was 32 for men and 29 for women - up from 25 and 23 respectively in 1971.
  • Divorces in 2005 fell to 155,000 from a 1993 peak of 180,000.
  • Divorces in 2005 fell to 155,000 from a 1993 peak of 180,000.
  • In 2005, 66% of single-parent families lived in rented housing compared with 22% of couples with dependent children.
  • In 2005, 66% of single-parent families lived in rented housing compared with 22% of couples with dependent children.