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	One-parent families have been unfairly &ldquo;scapegoated&rdquo; by society, according to a new report into the impact of family structure on child development.</p>
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	The Growing Up in a One-Parent Family report says children from lone-parent families fare similarly to those in married families - if faced with the same conditions growing up.</p>
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	It has found that the apparent benefits of marriage on child are more to do with background characteristics, like education and wealth, rather than marriage itself.</p>
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	Research lead Dr Carmel Hannan of the University of Limerick said it is clear that one-parent homes have been unfairly singled out.</p>
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	&quot;They were an easy group to target at times,&quot; she said. &quot;They were blamed for the moral collapse of British society, whereas any collapse in society is related to poor education [and] lack of employment opportunities.&quot;</p>
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	&quot;We noticed that lone parents are much more likely to have chronic illness or depression before the birth of their child.&quot;</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/one-parent-families-singled-out-by-society-report-claims-617746.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/one-parent-families-singled-out-by-society-report-claims-617746.html</a></p>
