Citation

Zeiders KH, Roosa MW, Tein JY. Fam. Process 2011; 50(1): 77-91.

Affiliation

School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Prevention Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Family Process Institute, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1545-5300.2010.01347.x

PMID

21361925

PMCID

PMC3077030

Abstract

Despite increases in single-parent families among Mexican Americans, few studies have examined the association of family structure and family adjustment. Utilizing a diverse sample of 738 Mexican-American families (21.7% single parent), the current study examined differences across family structure on early adolescent outcomes, family functioning, and parent-child relationship variables. Results revealed that early adolescents in single-parent families reported greater school misconduct, conduct disorder/oppositional deviant disorder, and major depressive disorder symptoms, and greater parent-child conflict than their counterparts in 2-parent families. Single-parent mothers reported greater economic hardship, depression, and family stress. Family stress and parent-child conflict emerged as significant mediators of the association between family structure and early adolescent outcomes, suggesting important processes linking Mexican-American single-parent families and adolescent adjustment.

Language: en