Study: Families of Christians, Jews often differ from expectations

Single-parent households are increasingly common especially among Christians, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

The study compared the size and composition of households among the world’s different faiths and found Christian children, more than any other religious group, live in single-parent homes. And women, particularly Christian women, are more likely than men to live as single parents.

The study also looked at size of households and found that Christians — as well as Jews and people of no faith — live in the smallest households. In the U.S. the three groups live in similarly sized households, on average — 3.4 people for Christians, 3.2 for people of no faith and 3.0 for Jews. Muslims across the globe live in the biggest households, with the average Muslim residing in a home of 6.4 people. 

The study acknowledges that religion is not the only cause at play here. Many factors affect household sizes, including cultural norms, income and education. (RNS)