JustResearch no. 12

Figure 3. Research Funded by the Department of Justice Canada on the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth

Figure 3 is a line graph that illustrates the cumulative percentage of children who were either born to lone parents or who had lived through the separation of their parents by birth cohort and age. Birth cohorts are as follow: Those born from 1961 to 1963; those born from 1971 to 1973; those born from 1983-1984; and those born from 1987 to 1988.

The x axis represents the childrens’ ages from zero to twenty.

The y axis is measured in percentages, ascending in increments of five and ranging from zero to thirty.

Of those belonging to the birth cohort of 1961-1963, about 4% were born into lone-parent families. By the age of twenty, about 24% had either been born into lone-parent families or had lived through the separation of their parents.

Of those belonging to the birth cohort of 1971-1973, about 6% were born into lone-parent families. By the age of fifteen, about 27% had either been born into lone-parent families or had lived through the separation of their parents.

Of those belonging to the birth cohort of 1983-1984, just over 5% were born into lone-parent families. By the age of ten, about 25% had either been born into lone-parent families or had lived through the separation of their parents.

Of those belonging to the birth cohort of 1987-1988, almost 8% were born into lone-parent families. By the age of six, about 23% had either been born into lone-parent families or had lived through the separation of their parents.