Two parents 'best for behaviour'

Children living with a single parent or in step-families are more badly behaved than their peers

Youngsters in these two categories are at least twice as likely to exhibit serious behaviour problems as those living with both their natural parents.

The findings are from a survey of almost 13,500 mothers, part of the Millennium Cohort Study. The mothers were asked to rate aspects of their child's behaviour at the age of seven, such as hyperactivity, emotional problems and difficulties with other children.

The children were then put in one of three categories: normal, borderline, or serious behaviour problems.

As found when the children were surveyed at age three and five, children from families with two natural parents showed "significantly fewer" behaviour problems than those from lone parent or step-families.

Professor Ingrid Schoon of the Institute of Education, who analysed the results, said: "Identifying which children are at greatest risk is therefore an ongoing challenge, especially as there is evidence that targeted parenting programmes can not only help parents to improve their relationship with their child but improve their child's behaviour."