Effects of Stress and Social Supports on Mother-Child Interactions in Single- and Two-Parent Families

Social networks, coping abilities, life stresses, and mother-child interaction were studied in 28 mother-child pairs--14 single mothers and their preschool children and 14 matched married women and children. Questionnaires were used to measure the mothers' social network, coping abilities, and life stress; a mother-child interaction situation was used to measure maternal control, maternal maturity demands, maternal nurturance, mother-child communication, and child compliance. Single parents tended to be more socially isolated than married parents. They worked longer hours and received less emotional and less parental support. They tended to have less stable social networks and experience more potentially stressful life changes. Only in the household area did single mothers report more difficulties coping than 2-parent mothers. No significant differences were found in any of the 5 mother-child interaction variables. Different variables predicted mother-child interaction in the 2 samples. Predicting optimal mother-child interaction in single-parent families were fewer stressful life events, reduced social contact, increased parenting support, and hours maternal employment. Predicting optimal interaction in 2-parent families were fewer stressful life events, satisfaction with emotional support, and the availability of household help. Social contacts, household help, and employment differentially predicted mother-child interactions in the 2 groups. Implications of these differences for descriptions of the effect of social networks and maternal adjustment on child development are considered, as are implications for intervention.