Look at the data. Children raised in a home with both parents are overwhelmingly more successful than those from single households. This goes to time spent with the children, and values taught them.

It is definitely a symptom. And a cause. Not sure you can separate the two. The problems seen in out of wedlock births cross racial lines and the white children suffer equally to blacks. The point is that this causes generational poverty and hopelessness in all races and is the root of many of the problems young people face with respect of authority, drugs, crime, teen pregnancy, STD's, and violence.

As much as it is heresy to say these days. A complete home and christian values are vital to the success of our society.