Social Support of Divorced Single Mothers and Their Children

This study investigated the nature, sources, and correlates of social support in a sample of 35 white middle class children (mean age = 10.48 years) and their single divorced mothers who were separated a mean of 13.11 months. Mothers' needs in the areas of discussing feelings and recreational/social activities were greater than those in the areas of child care and discussing divorce-related concerns. Mothers perceived little support in the areas of attachment and physical intimacy, and the source of support varied by the area of support, with friends being the most frequent source. Mothers' stress was negatively related to support received in the areas of attachment and worth. Children most frequently mentioned friends as a major source of support, while mothers rated themselves and children's friends as the most frequent sources of support to their children. Generally, children's adjustment was positively related to the degree of their perceived social support and to the size of their social support network, but not to a particular area or source of support. Mothers' social support was related to children's social support when mothers provided information about both; however, mothers' reports of their own social support were unrelated to children's reports of their own social support. The role of social support in divorce adjustment is discussed.