The Effect of Family Structure on Adolescent Academic Achievement and Attendance

Abstract

The increase in single-parent households and what role the family plays in academic achievement were the focus of this study. Differences in attendance behavior and academic achievement between adolescents from two-parent and singleparent households were examined. The hypothesis is that family factors such as divorce, death, stepparents, and substance or physical abuse would signal differences in academic attendance and achievement between students from two-parent and one-parent households. Using data from school district computer records 50 students, 25 from twoparent households and 25 from one-parent households, were randomly selected and analyzed. Using a t test for independent samples, a statistical analysis was employed to discover any differences between groups as measured by grade point average and family structure and attendance and family structure. The analysis revealed no significant difference between the achievement of adolescents from two-parent and single-parent households, yet the analysis revealed a significant difference between the attendance of adolescents from two-parent households and those from one-parent households.