Role of maternal functioning and parenting skills in adolescent functioning following parental divorce

Article Abstract:

The results of recent studies have revealed an association between divorce and negative effects on the children of divorced parents. The research results available are not consistent pertaining to the duration of the negative impact of divorce upon children. Some research indicates that these effects are short-term; other findings suggest that the negative effects persist into adulthood. However, few studies have focused upon the mechanisms within the divorce process which lead to a negative outcome for the children. A hypothesis was formulated and tested in this study. The hypothesis was that divorce causes either poor parental adjustment or disrupted parenting behavior, or a combination of these two major factors may be at work, and that the outcome for any of these scenarios is poor adolescent functioning. Ninety-three young adolescents from recently divorced families (average time since divorce, 5.8 months), along with their mothers and teachers, participated. The adolescents from divorced families were compared with a similar group consisting of 121 young adolescents from intact families (the controls). During a mother-adolescent interaction, observers coded the parenting skills that were exhibited. Mothers completed parental conflict and depression tests, and teachers assessed adolescent functioning. When the results were examined, large differences between the functioning of the two groups were not found. Although the magnitude of the differences was not great, the scores of children of divorced parents were consistently lower on all but one measure. Thus, the hypothesis was essentially confirmed by this study. It was concluded that both parenting skills and parental functioning have an impact upon adolescent functioning after divorce. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Parenting, Divorce, Children of divorced parents, Adolescent psychology

---

The impact of maternal HIV infection on parenting in inner-city African American families

Article Abstract:

African American women who are HIV-infected tend to have a less positive relationship with their children than their counterparts who are not HIV-infected. Furthermore, they monitor their children's activities less closely than noninfected mothers. This research provides new evidence for the importance of the parenting dimensions of parent-child relationship quality and parental structure and control if African American children living in poor conditions are to experience positive psychosocial adjustment.

Research, Parent and child, Parent-child relations, African American women, African American children

---

Disclosure of parental HIV infection to children in the families of men with hemophilia: description, outcomes, and the role of family processes

Article Abstract:

Disclosure of HIV-infection by fathers to their children in hemophilia-prone families did not yield negative effects on child functioning within the family processes. In accordance with previous studies, parents were found to be more likely to disclose their illness to older children than to younger ones. Moreover, disclosure is most likely to occur in Caucasian families than in families of other ethnic groups.

Physiological aspects, Children, AIDS patients, Hemophilia, Family, Children of AIDS patients

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Body image, psychosocial functioning, and personality: how different are adolescents and young adults applying for plastic surgery?
• Abstracts: The effects of message framing and ethnic targeting on mammography use among low-income women. Using Message framing to motivate HIV testing among low-income ethnic minority women
• Abstracts: Body fat, caloric intake, and plasma leptin levels in women with anorexia nervosa. Pilot study of a graded exercise program for the treatment of anorexia nervosa
• Abstracts: Coping strategies and attachment in pedophiles: implications for treatment. The treatment of pedophiles: clinical experience and the implication of recent research
• Abstracts: Informed consent and tardive dyskinesia. Factors in the development of severe forms of tardive dyskinesia. Clonazepam treatment of tardive dyskinesia: a practical GABAmimetic strategy

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.