A single parent family is a household where one parent is solely responsible for raising and caring for their child or children, without a spouse or live- in partner to assist in upbringing or support. This situation can arise due to various reasons such as divorce, separation, death of a spouse, abandonment, or a conscious decision to parent alone

. Single parent families can be headed by either a mother or a father and include unmarried, widowed, or divorced individuals who are not remarried

. Despite the challenges, children raised in single parent families can thrive with love, support, and a stable environment provided by the single parent

. This family structure has become increasingly common and represents a significant portion of households in many countries. For example, in the UK, there are nearly 3 million single-parent households, making up about 15% of all households

. In the U.S., over 23 million children live in single-parent families, which is about one in every three children

. In summary, a single parent family is defined by the presence of only one adult parent who is the primary caregiver and provider for their children