Cohabitation brings increasing risk of child abuse

Date published: 11/25/2007

GOVERNMENT, most agree, has no business butting into citi- zens' personal lives. Yet few recognize how much individual choices affect families, communities, and, ultimately, the nation. Now experts warn that decisions people are mak- ing about marriage are exposing America's children to an increased risk of abuse.

The Associated Press points out ["Abuse risk to children growing," Nov. 19] that children living with cohabiting adults who aren't both their biological parents are nearly 50 times as likely to die of inflicted injuries as children raised by two natural parents. Children living in stepfamilies or in single-parent homes are at higher risk for physical and sexual assault than children living with two biological or adoptive parents. And girls whose parents divorce are more likely to be sexually assaulted no matter which parent gains custody.

When children bear the brunt of poor personal decisions, the nation also will. Culturally, cohabitation and having kids outside of marriage have become acceptable. In 2005, notes the Census, more than 4.8 million couples cohabited. Today, a third of all children are born out of wedlock.

Yet children raised in that circumstance are three times as likely to be expelled from school, five times as likely to live in poverty, five times as likely to commit suicide, and 12 times as likely to be incarcerated. The social costs of the decision to have children outside of marriage are enormous.

Although some proclaim that marriage is just a piece of paper, that love is what matters, these Aquarian conceits fail the reality test and look increasingly shabby as the statistics of abuse mount. Love may be as fleeting as a warm summer day; marriage is a commitment, a legal, social, and, many believe, spiritual partnership that, because it is somewhat difficult to dissolve, provides a degree of stability--a virtue when it comes to raising children.

Date published: 11/25/2007

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