Child and Adolescent Competence in Intact, One-Parent, and Step-Families:

Abstract

This study compared the competence of children and adolescents in three family types: intact two-parent families (n=201), step-families (n=55), and one-parent families (n=89). Families were randomly selected through the Australian school system. Five measures of competence were used: reading ability, everyday life skills, self-esteem, social competence, and impulse control. Controlling for socio-economic status, children and adolescents in one-parent families were similiar to those in two-parent families. Children in step-families, compared with children in other family types, had lower reading ability, impulse control, and self-esteem. Children in intact two-parent families, compared with children in other family types, had a lower level of everyday skills performance. These results suggest that children in one-parent families are not disadvantaged in the development of competence, although children in step-families may experience some problems.