Summary of the Article
The research paper "Adolescent Well-Being in Cohabiting, Married, and Single-Parent Families" was produced by Wendy D. Manning and Kathleen A. Lamb in 2003 and published in the peer-reviewed academic Journal of Marriage and Family. The fundamental aim of this study was to examine the well-being of adolescents living in different types of families, including single-parent, cohabiting, and married families, with a particular focus on cohabiting stepfamilies. The authors also thought to assess various socio-economic factors contributing to the well-being of teenagers. The researches performed the study on the basis of "the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to assess the well-being of adolescents in cohabiting parent stepfamilies", which the initial study including 13,231 participants at the age of adolescence that were brought up by within different family structures (Manning & Lamb, 2003, p. 876). The initial hypotheses was that "Teens living with cohabiting stepparents often fare worse than teens living with two biological married parents. Adolescents living in cohabiting stepfamilies experience greater disadvantage than teens living in married stepfamilies" (Manning & Lamb, 2003, p. 876). The findings of the study support the hypotheses. The results obtained within the course of this research also contribute to better understanding of cohabitation as a social phenomenon and to discussions regarding the importance of marriage for adolescents and children of younger age.
Connection to the Course
The above-mentioned study directly refers to several concepts of the textbook. In the first place, it is related to the concept of family structure, which explains specific features of and differences between various types of families, including single-parent, cohabiting, and married families. it should also be noted that the topic of family is one of the fundamental topics within the course of Sociology taken as a whole. The topic of family structure and various associated aspect is thoroughly analyzed in the book. Within this perspective, the book also explains the role of parents within each structure as well as economic and social impact on a child's well-being. For the most part, the scholarly article supports information provided in the textbook. The results obtained within the course of the study provide relevant statistical data and may enhance students' knowledge and understanding of the direct and indirect effects of a family structure on the well-being of adolescents, as well their behavior and attitudes. The results also contribute to better understanding of socio-economic circumstances of lives of adolescents and the differences between life in a cohabiting parent stepfamilies and single-parent families.
Conclusion
I consider this article to be a valuable piece of information for any student or professional engaged in the field of Sociology and particularly to those who are concerned with family issues, such as family therapy, counseling, etc. I really liked reading the above-mentioned article for several reasons. In the first place, I have always been interested in the topic of family and family structures and particularly on the role that family structure plays in the development and well-being of a child. Secondly, the article was logically organized and that made it enjoyable to read.
The major research method used within the course of this study may be referred to as the combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Both of them are appropriate to for the hypothesis, as the study not only sought to discover the number of adolescents living in various types of families, but also to examine direct and indirect effects and socio-economic circumstances of adolescents' well-being. I believe that this information might help me not only in my field of study, but also in my personal and family life, especially when I decide to found a family and have a child.
References
Manning, W. D., & Lamb, K. A. (2003). Adolescent Well-Being in Cohabiting, Married, and Single-Parent Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(4), 876-893. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00876.x
