Single Mother Homes Research Articles

“That’s Just Who I am”: African American High School Seniors and Their Mothers Perspectives on Academic Success

Much of the research on African American students tend to focus on the causes and consequences of academic failure. This fixation on negative outcomes continues to perpetuate deficit views of African American student achievement. As a consequence, far less is known about the successful academic outcomes of African American students, generally, and those from single-mother homes, specifically. Social workers can learn a lot about how to support and celebrate African American student achievement by allowing them and their families to give voice to their own lived experiences. Centering and honoring the unique taken-for-granted knowledges of African American students and their families offers social workers a more authentic understanding of students and families, insights that can inform both micro and macro level practice approaches. The purpose of this study was to explore academic success as perceived and experienced by African American high school students and their single mothers. This qualitative study utilized a narrative inquiry approach that used in-depth, semistructured interviews for data collection. The sample of seven African American high school seniors (four girls, three boys) and their single mothers were selected using purposeful sampling methods. Data analysis revealed that students’ inherent drive toward success, a deeply invested mother, and assistance from social-relational supports were key factors to academic success. Implications for social work practice are included.

Individual- and Family-Level Correlates of Socio-Emotional Functioning among African American Youth from Single-Mother Homes: A Compensatory Resilience Model

The majority of research on African American adolescents raised in single-mother homes has focused on externalizing problems, with less attention to other facets of socio-emotional functioning. Using a compensatory resilience approach, the current study examined risk and protective factors at the family (maternal warmth, monitoring, psychological control) and youth (ethnic identity and religiosity) levels as predictors of depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and self-esteem among African American adolescents from single-mother homes ( n = 193). Lower levels of psychological control, higher levels of monitoring, and higher levels of youth ethnic identity were associated with at least one of the outcomes, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and self-esteem. In addition, self-esteem, but not hopelessness, mediated the associations between the family- and youth-level factors and youth depressive symptoms. The importance of targeting maternal psychological control and youth ethnic identity, as well as self-esteem, in intervention programs for African American youth from single-mother families is discussed.

Household composition and maltreatment allegations in the US: Deconstructing the at-risk single mother family

BackgroundPrevious research has demonstrated the association between child maltreatment and household composition, with increased maltreatment risk generally present in single mother households. However, existing research does not fully examine the complexity and configuration of single mother households. In particular, less is known about important variants of single parent family structures, such as grandparents residing in the home, and the extent to which household compositions change across time. ObjectiveThe present study examines rates of maltreatment allegations across various household compositions in a sample of single biological mother households. Participants and Setting: Youth participants (N = 417) were part of the larger multi-site Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) study. MethodsParticipants completed longitudinal assessments of household composition and maltreatment allegations from ages 4 to 10. Results: The present study illustrates substantial variability in the rate of maltreatment allegations across different types of single mother household compositions. In particular, the presence of non-relatives, especially unrelated males, demonstrated an increased risk for maltreatment allegations in the home. Conversely, single mother homes with two or more adult relatives, especially grandmothers, were at reduced risk for child maltreatment allegations. ConclusionsThis study highlights variability in maltreatment allegations among single mother homes, including how maltreatment allegations vary across different household configurations, across child age periods and across different risk levels.

A High Achieving Inner-City School: An Ecological Analysis

Holy Angels, a high achieving, African American, urban, elementary school in Chicago, Illinois offers a model for successful education of ethnic minority children. Despite coming from predominantly welfare supported, single-mother homes, located in crime ridden inner-city Chicago, during the period bounded by this study, 1969 to 1979, Holy Angels’ students produced test scores among the highest in the nation. The results of semistructured interviews of administrators, teachers, and former students and archival document analysis suggest that three major elements, namely, a high expectation–high help environment, emphasis on life preparation, and iconic leadership—uniquely interwoven, were distinguishing features of Holy Angels School.

Socioeconomic status, parenting, and externalizing problems in African American single-mother homes: A person-oriented approach.

African American youth, particularly those from single-mother homes, are overrepresented in statistics on externalizing problems. The family is a central context in which to understand externalizing problems; however, reliance on variable-oriented approaches to the study of parenting, which originate from work with intact, middle-income, European American families, may obscure important information regarding variability in parenting styles among African American single mothers, and in turn, variability in youth outcomes as well. The current study demonstrated that within African American single-mother families: (a) a person-, rather than variable-, oriented approach to measuring parenting style may further elucidate variability; (b) socioeconomic status may provide 1 context within which to understanding variability in parenting style; and (c) 1 marker of socioeconomic status, income, and parenting style may each explain variability in youth externalizing problems; however, the interaction between income and parenting style was not significant. Findings have potential implications for better understanding the specific contexts in which externalizing problems may be most likely to occur within this at-risk and underserved group.

Socioeconomic status, parenting, and externalizing problems in african american single-mother homes: A person-oriented approach.

Socioeconomic status, parenting, and externalizing problems in african american single-mother homes: A person-oriented approach.

Correlates of wellness among youth with functional disabilities

BackgroundThe literature is more informative on the impediments to wellness among youth with functional limitations and less instructive on the state of wellness for this population. ObjectiveTo explore overall wellness, and each sub-dimension of wellness, in a national sample of youth with functional limitations and to determine how demographic characteristics are associated with wellness. MethodsUsing a previously validated screening instrument, we identify youth with functional limitations aged 12 to 17 represented in the 2011/12 National Survey of Children's Health. Survey items were coded to operationalize an overall wellness score comprised of four sub-dimensions of wellness (i.e., physical, intellectual, emotional, and social). ResultsThe mean overall wellness score was 26.7 (out of 40) and had an approximate normal distribution. Mean raw scores for each sub-dimension were as follows: social = 2.79 (out of 4; 69.7%); emotional = 4.09 (out of 6; 68.2%); intellectual = 3.79 (out of 8; 47.4%); and physical = 6.30 (out of 8; 78.7%). Lower wellness scores were associated with older age among youth, increasing number of chronic health conditions, lower income, single mother homes, and youth whose mother reported fair or poor mental health status (all p < 0.05). Higher wellness scores were positively associated with mother's education (p < 0.001). ConclusionsProgram planners should consider interventions that target youth with functional limitations shown to be at particular risk for lower overall wellness and promote family involvement and comprehensive supports, including maternal educational attainment, mental health screening, and referral.

Coparenting experiences in African American families: an examination of single mothers and their nonmarital coparents.

African American youth from single-mother homes continue to be overrepresented in statistics on risk behavior and delinquency, a trend that many be attributed to father-absence, socioeconomic disadvantage, and compromises in parenting more typical of single than two-parent families. Yet, this risk-focused perspective ignores a long-standing strength of the African American community, the involvement and potential protective impact of extended family members in childrearing. This study describes the experiences of 95 African American single mothers and their nonmarital coparents who participated in a study of African American single-mother families with an 11-16-year-old child. Specifically, the study examines: (a) the extent to which nonmarital coparents are involved in childrearing; (b) the relative levels of risk (i.e., depression, mother-coparent conflict) and protective (i.e., parenting) associated with maternal and coparent involvement; and (c) how similarly and/or differently coparent and mother variables operate with regard to youth externalizing problems. Findings reveal that a range of family members and other adults actively participate in childrearing in African American single-mother families, coparents do not differ from mothers on certain study variables (i.e., depression and mother-coparent conflict) but do for others (parenting), and coparent involvement is associated with youth adjustment in ways that are similar to our more established understanding of maternal involvement. The potential clinical implications of the findings are discussed and future research directions are highlighted.

Influence of family structure on obesogenic behaviors and placement of bedroom TVs of American children: National Survey of Children's Health 2007

ObjectiveTo explore the relation between family structure and obesogenic attributes. MethodsPublicly available data from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (n=55,094; 11.6±0.04years; 51.2% male) was analyzed in fall 2012. Predictor variables included marital status (two-parent biological [referent], two-parent blended, single-mother, and other) and number of children. Outcome variables included the presence of a bedroom television (BTV), elevated television (TV) viewing time, insufficient physical activity, and infrequent family meals. ResultsAnalysis of family structure revealed 63% biological, 11% blended, and 20% single-mother families. Twenty-three percent of children did not have siblings. When family structure variables were considered independently, children in blended (odds ratio (OR): 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.45, 2.10) and single-mother homes (1.49; 1.28, 1.74) had higher odds of BTV. Children in blended families had higher odds of elevated TV viewing time (1.28; 1.08, 1.51). Single-mother homes had higher odds of infrequent family meals (1.28; 1.07, 1.52). Families with ≥2 children were less likely to have BTV (0.60; 0.54, 0.66) or elevated TV viewing time (0.74; 0.67, 0.82), and to irregularly dine together (0.89; 0.80, 0.99). ConclusionDiverse family structure was associated with more obesogenic behaviors and environments. The presence of siblings diminished, but did not eliminate, the risk.

Youth Functioning in the Coparenting Context: A Mixed Methods Study of African American Single Mother Families

African American youth from single mother families are at an elevated risk for externalizing difficulties, and yet are under-studied in terms of culturally-relevant health promoting influences on their adjustment or positive indices of adjustment. The current study utilized a mixed methods research design (quantitative data: n = 185; qualitative data n = 20) to examine associations between two parenting behaviors displayed by one health promoting influence, nonmarital coparents (i.e., adults identified as significantly involved in child-rearing), and indicators of both adjustment (self-esteem) and maladjustment (externalizing difficulties) among African American early adolescents from single mother homes. Quantitative findings provided support for a differential specificity parenting hypothesis involving coparent parenting behaviors. Coparent monitoring was significantly associated with youth externalizing symptoms but not self-esteem, and its association with externalizing symptoms was marginally stronger than its association with self-esteem. Coparent warmth was associated with both youth externalizing difficulties and self-esteem and significantly more strongly associated with self-esteem compared to externalizing symptoms. Qualitative findings from interviews with adolescent participants suggested that coparents were engaged in close, multi-faceted relationships with them, and, overall, those relationships involved a mixture of functions typically performed by both parental figures and mentors. Findings initially suggest that service providers may want to emphasize the benefits of coparents providing to youth from single mother families consistent social support and monitoring/re-direction, with the latter perhaps being most helpful in the context of a very close relationship between youth and coparents.

Migration of Patients Between Five Urban Teaching Hospitals in Chicago

To quantify the extent of patient sharing and inpatient care fragmentation among patients discharged from a cohort of Chicago hospitals. Admission and discharge dates and patient ZIP codes from 5 hospitals over 2 years were matched with an encryption algorithm. Admission to more than one hospital was considered fragmented care. The association between fragmentation and socio-economic variables using ZIP-code data from the 2000 US Census was measured. Using validation from one hospital, patient matching using encrypted identifiers had a sensitivity of 99.3 % and specificity of 100 %. The cohort contained 228,151 unique patients and 334,828 admissions. Roughly 2 % of the patients received fragmented care, accounting for 5.8 % of admissions and 6.4 % of hospital days. In 3 of 5 hospitals, and overall, the length of stay of patients with fragmented care was longer than those without. Fragmentation varied by hospital and was associated with the proportion of non-Caucasian persons, the proportion of residents whose income fell in the lowest quartile, and the proportion of residents with more children being raised by mothers alone in the zip code of the patient. Patients receiving fragmented care accounted for 6.4 % of hospital days. This percentage is a low estimate for our region, since not all regional hospitals participated, but high enough to suggest value in creating Health Information Exchange. Fragmentation varied by hospital, per capita income, race and proportion of single mother homes. This secure methodology and fragmentation analysis may prove useful for future analyses.

Youth Externalizing Problems in African American Single Mother Families: A Culturally-Relevant Model.

African American youth, particularly those from single mother homes, are more likely to evidence externalizing problems than European American youth and youth from two parent homes; however, relatively little empirical attention has been devoted to identifying the contextual variables associated with externalizing problems within this at-risk group. Accordingly, this study examined the family as a context for youth externalizing problems among 194 African American single mother-youth dyads. Findings demonstrated that higher levels of mother-coparent conflict were associated directly, as well as indirectly via compromises in coparent (but not maternal) warmth, with youth externalizing problems. The spillover from mother-coparent conflict to coparent warmth to child externalizing problems did not vary depending upon family income. Findings suggest that prevention and intervention programs targeting African American youth from single mother homes may be strengthened with greater attention to variability in family processes, as well as a more sensitive assessment of which adults are centrally involved in childrearing.

Neighborhood context and adjustment in African American youths from single mother homes: The intervening role of hopelessness.

African American youths from single mother homes are more likely to live in neighborhoods characterized by greater risk and fewer resources than youth from two parent homes or European American youths; in turn, such adverse conditions are associated with increased adjustment problems. Despite this well-established vulnerability, relatively little is known about variables linking neighborhood context to youth adjustment. With the aim of identifying a potential youth-focused intervening variable amenable to intervention, this study examined the intervening role of hopelessness in the association between neighborhood context and adjustment problems in a sample of 171 African American youths (11-16 year olds) from single mother homes. Findings revealed direct associations between neighborhood context and youth adjustment, as well as indirect associations through youth hopelessness, although findings varied by the marker of neighborhood context (sense of community or perceived crime) and adjustment (internalizing or externalizing problems). Building on prior work noting that hopelessness is amenable to psychosocial intervention, the present findings suggest that hopelessness may afford a valuable target for prevention and intervention programming among African American youths from single mother homes in the context of adverse neighborhood conditions.

Irregular breakfast consumption in adolescence and the family environment: Underlying causes by family structure

Data from the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Scottish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys were analysed using logistic multilevel regression for outcome variable irregular breakfast consumption (IBC). IBC prevalence in Scotland was higher among young people from reconstituted and single parent families, and particularly single father families. Family characteristics, found previously to be associated with breakfast consumption, such as number of siblings, perceived parenting, parental involvement and family affluence, differed by family structure. Family structure inequalities in IBC existed, also after adjustment for year and child’s sex, age, grade and ethnicity. Across all family structures, IBC was more prevalent at the older age groups, among those who had difficult communication with their parents, and where household routines were infrequent. Greater number of siblings and lower family affluence were associated with higher odds of IBC in single mother and both parent families, while having a second home was associated with higher odds in reconstituted households. Fair parenting and being close to at least one parent was associated with reduced odds of IBC in single mother households, while being close to all parents was in single father households. In single mother homes, having a working mother was also positively associated with IBC. Family structure differences should be considered when addressing irregular breakfast consumption in adolescence.

The mother–coparent relationship and youth adjustment: A study of African American single-mother families.

African American youth from single-mother homes are at increased risk for a range of adjustment difficulties. The family is a central context in which to study youth adjustment; however, much of the work on African American youth has focused on family conflict and maladjustment, with less attention to the supportive aspects of family relationships or their potential links with positive outcomes. This study examined the associations between conflictual and supportive aspects of the relationships that single mothers have with their nonmarital coparents and both positive and negative outcomes among 268 African American youth from single-mother homes. Findings revealed that mother-coparent support was associated with child competence, and mother-coparent conflict was associated with child maladjustment. In addition, positive parenting fully mediated these relations between mother-coparent relationship and child outcomes. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

Psychosocial Adjustment of Low-Income African American Youth From Single Mother Homes: The Role of the Youth–Coparent Relationship

African American youthw from single mother homes are at greater risk for internalizing and externalizing problems relative to their peers from two-parent homes. Although the predominance of psychosocial research on these youth has focused on maternal parenting and mother–child relationship quality, far less attention has been devoted to the quality of the relationships that youth have with “nonmarital coparents,” or other adults and family members who assist African American single mothers with childrearing. This study examined the contribution of the youth–coparent relationship to psychosocial adjustment among African American youth from single mother families (n = 141). Findings revealed that maternal parenting and youth–coparent relationship quality interacted to predict both youth internalizing and externalizing problems. Specifically, greater youth–coparent relationship quality enhanced the protective role of maternal positive parenting. Findings suggest the potential role of broader familial and social contexts for enhancing the protective effects of positive parenting.

Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, Inattention (HIA) and Conduct Problems among African American Youth: The Roles of Neighborhood and Gender

This study replicated and extended prior research by examining neighborhood context as a moderator of the relation between the constellation of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention (HIA) difficulties and conduct problems among African American youth (11-16 years old; 55% girls) from single mother homes (N = 193). Using audio computer-assisted interview (ACASI) software, mother-child dyads provided ratings of HIA difficulties and two domains of conduct problems: aggression and rule-breaking. In addition, both subjective (mother-report) and objective (census data) indices of neighborhood context were assessed. Findings revealed that both subjective and objective indices of neighborhood context moderated the relation between HIA and conduct problems, but the pattern of moderation differed depending on the index and combination of reporters. Future research directions and implications of the findings are discussed.

Fathers and Their Infants: Caregiving and Affection in the Modern Family

Despite social work's expressed interest in families and belief in the importance of parents to children, social work researchers have done little to explore the importance of fathers in children's everyday lives. This is especially true for infants. Moreover, as more and more infants and children grow up in single-mother homes, step-families, and other family configurations, knowledge is needed about how these demographic trends affect parents' interactions with their young children. This article examines men's caregiving of infants and their displays of affection in a longitudinal study of a diverse sample of infants and their mothers, using both person-centered and variable-centered statistical methods. Comparisons are made among various “types” of fathers, including those who live with and separately from their children and men who are not biological fathers but live with and care for infants. Results indicate that caregiving and expressions of affection appear to represent two distinct domains of fathering behaviors for residential fathers. We found two classes of residential fathers: one with low levels of both types of fathering behavior and one with higher levels, particularly higher expressions of affection. Similarly we found two classes of non-residential fathers with dramatically different levels of fathering behavior. Though surrogate fathers did provide affection to their infants, their levels of caregiving were low.

Self-Regulation and Conduct Problems Among Low-Income African American Youth From Single-Mother Homes: The Roles of Perceived Neighborhood Context and Child Gender

The present study examines perceived neighborhood context and gender as moderators of the relation between self-regulation and conduct problems among low-income African American youth (7 to 15 years old; 50% girls) from single-mother homes. Mother-child dyads (N = 277) provided ratings of self-regulation, neighborhood resources and risks, and aggression and other conduct problems. Analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction among self-regulation, neighborhood context, and gender. Neighborhoods lower in resources and higher in risks exacerbated the link between poor self-regulation and aggression and conduct problems for girls, but not for boys. Clinical implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed.

The Psychosocial Adjustment of African American Youth from Single Mother Homes: The Relative Contribution of Parents and Peers

This study examined the relative roles of parents and peers in the psychosocial adjustment of African American youth (7–15 years old) from single mother homes (N = 242). Main effects of both positive parenting and peer relationship quality were found for youth depressive symptoms. In addition, a main effect of peer relationship quality and an interaction of Positive Parenting × Peer Relationship Quality emerged for youth externalizing symptoms. When mothers engaged in higher levels of positive parenting behavior, peer relationship quality was not associated with youth externalizing symptomatology. When mothers engaged in lower levels of positive parenting behavior, however, higher peer relationship quality was associated with greater youth externalizing symptomatology. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.