Over the past few decades, patterns of family structure have changed dramatically in the United States. The typical nuclear family, consisting of two married parents with children living together in the same household, is no longer the structure of most families today. The percentage of single-parent families, stepfamilies, and adoptive families has increased significantly over the years. The nuclear family is a thing of the past. Family situations have a tremendous influence on a child's academic achievement, behavior, and social growth. The current structure of the average family in America is changing, primarily due to the growing number of mothers who now work outside the home. The current percentage of dual-income families is 64%, making it a solid majority today. This alteration of the "traditional" family structure is a conduit for other changes that may soon occur. Two-parent families consist of a mother and father living in a home with dependent children. The family can consist of a biological mother and father or a stepparent. Few or no negative effects have been found in two-parent families. Researchers suggest that children from two-parent families are less likely to have social problems. Children raised in two-parent families are more likely to complete high school and attend college. Cho, Lee, and Kuchner (2007) found that students raised in two-parent families demonstrate better behavior, have fewer absences and tardies, and have much higher grade point averages. Researchers suggest that children from two-parent families have better grades and perform better both academically and socially because parents have more time to devote to raising their children as opposed to single parents. Although the two-parent family...... half of the document ......enters single-parent families. Sexual roles. 56: 149-157Deplanty, Jennifer, Duchane, A Kim, Kern-Coulter Russell (2007). Perception of parental involvement in academic achievement. The journal of educational research. Vol 100, no. 6, 361 Stolley, K. S. (1993). Adoption statistics in the United States. The Future of Children: Adoption, 3(1), 26-42Sweeney, M Megan (2007). Stepfather families and adolescents' emotional well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Vol 48, no. 1, 33-49 Thiessen, Sarah (1997). Effects of single parenthood on adolescent academic achievement: Establishing a risk and protection framework Walsh, Froma (2003). Normal family processes: diversity and complexity. New York, NY: Guilford Press http://family.jrank.org/pages/1577/Single-Parent-Families-Effects-on-Children.html retrieved August 24, 2008