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,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology 2009-05, Vol.38 (3), p.427-438
Main Authors: Sterrett, Emma M., Jones, Deborah J., Kincaid, Carlye
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adjustment
Adjustment (to Environment)
Adolescent
Adolescents
Adult
African Americans
African Americans - psychology
At Risk Persons
Behavior Problems
Black American people
Child Behavior Checklist
Child Rearing
Externalizing problems
Families & family life
Family Structure
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Interpersonal relationships
Louisiana
Low Income Groups
Male
Middle Aged
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers
One Parent Family
Parent Child Relationship
Parenting
Psychological Patterns
Psychology
Single mothers
Single Parent
Single parents
Social Adjustment
Social Influences
Social psychology
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Urban Areas
Young Adult
Young people
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1537-4416
1537-4424
DOI:10.1080/15374410902851663