Stable unions matter for children’s sake

Alan B. Feranil, University of San Carlos

Changes in marital unions are important in the development of children especially in cultures where intact families play a major influence on children. This study examined the influence of the stability of marital unions on the overall development of preschool children in selected disadvantaged areas in the Philippines. Using longitudinal data from the Early Childhood Development Project 2001-2005, I examined the effect of stability of mother’s marital unions on the overall development of 2, 190 children ages three to six year old. Results of the analysis revealed that stability of marital unions influenced the overall development of preschool children even when other individual and household level factors were taken into account. The results revealed the importance of stable unions in the development of children supporting the hypothesis that stable unions yield better children.