Little research has considered the nature of parent-child relationships in stable single-parent households that have not undergone transitions such as divorce and repartnering. This study explored how single mothers and their children negotiated their relationships in a context where the mother has been parenting alone continuously from early in…

Nonresident fathers' financial support and time are both important to children's well-being, although the association between these two types of involvement is mixed in the literature. Using the 1994-2004 waves of the Current Population Survey-Child Support Supplement, this article examined the associations between mothers' reports of child…

Over 2-week period, 52 low-income single mothers of preschool-age children recorded stressful daily events and described how they attempted to cope with each episode. Most events involved stressful interactions with children, particularly child misbehavior. Stressful exchanges involving other adults were frequently recorded, as were financial…

Explored model integrating human capital, family resource, employment, and psychosocial factors to explain variation in economic self-sufficiency among 851 single mothers on public assistance. Workplace support was most significant factor affecting degree to which mothers reduced their reliance on welfare as source of household income over…

Used data from nationally representative sample (n=2,528) to examine division of household labor in first-marriage families, stepfamilies, families headed by divorced mothers, and families headed by never-married mothers. Findings indicated that, across family types and regardless of women's employment status, women performed two to three times…

Developed structure of depression for 100 young adolescent, 278 older adolescent, and 276 adult mothers at risk for depression because of their unmarried status and low income. Identified three different factorial structures with the youngest mothers having the most complex structure and the highest level of depression. (Author/ABL)

Examined correlates of job-family strain in 160 Canadian employed single mothers with preschoolers. Strain was positively related to hours worked, number of children, and child's age and negatively associated with more positive attitudes to work and higher work satisfaction. Child care variables were not associated with strain. (Author/NB)

Reviews implementation and effects of three child support reforms in Wisconsin to determine the child support policies that yield the greatest benefit to dependent children. Expressing child support orders as a percentage of noncustodial parent's income increases amount of orders and payments. Withholding payment from noncustodial parents' income…

Qualitative study of 30 employed single mothers replicated previous findings of challenges in managing shortages of time, money, and energy. Revealed serious concerns about failure to meet perceived family and societal expectations for living in "normal" family with 2 parents. Behavior subjects perceived to be expected of single parents…

Compares the psychological adjustment of adolescent mothers (n=27) with that of adolescent nonmothers (n=27), single adult mothers (n=27), and married adult mothers. Adolescent mothers reported greater life enjoyment and well-being than adolescent nonmothers, but more mental health problems and less well-being than married adult mothers. (SR)

Examined interviews with 43 White single mothers for thematic content relating to economics of single parenthood, feelings about single parenting, the children's fathers, and stigmatization. Results showed that these women had developed coping strategies and were proud of their ability to survive under adverse circumstances, but that they felt…

Compared primary caregivers' perceptions of social support received in father-present (N=15) and father-absent (N=19) Black families caring for a child with sickle cell anemia. Found most support to caregivers came from extended kin network, despite father presence or absence. Caregivers reported decrease in network support between diagnosis in…

Examined attitudes of 20 divorced mothers about becoming their families' breadwinners. Attitudes toward breadwinning varied according to 3 marital history types: segregated, modified-segregated, and primarily wife-shaped. Findings showed that mothers from segregated marriages had the greatest difficulty accepting the breadwinner role. (TE)

Provides an overview of the Wisconsin child support system. Explores policy and program implications of the child support revision process and makes recommendations for improving revision. Advocates expressing child support orders as a percentage of the noncustodial parents' income to keep the orders updated automatically and replace the need for…