It should also be useful to those developing programs and policies for children. The most common type of blended family consisted of a couple and their shared children, together with the wife's children from a previous relationship. Among two-parent families, just over a third had both parents in the labor market full time. Another third lived in families where one parent was employed full time and the other parent was not in paid employment. One child in 4 between the age of 0 to 11 years lived in low-income families.
Many different factors create risks for young people.
The analyses showed, for example, that children from poorer families were more likely to have emotional and behavioural problems. But each aspect of a child's environment such as family income cannot be looked at in isolation from other factors. Positive parenting, harmonious families and higher education of the mother can help overcome the disadvantage of growing up poor. The report examines which combinations of multiple disadvantage can put children most at risk, and therefore provides information with which to develop early intervention programs. The welfare of children and young adults is strongly influenced by their early experiences.