Diverse Adaptations of Single Parent, Low-Income Families with Young Children

SUMMARY

Distinct family caregiving structures among low-income single parent families were identified. The relationships between these structures and family needs, social resources and family functioning were described. Unmarried low-income, primarily African-American mothers whose children were enrolled in community-based early childhood programs were interviewed. While global measures of functioning or distress were unrelated to type of family caregiving structure, there were significant differences with respect to specific sources of stress or conflict, stability of the caregiving structure across time, and perceived sources of primary support. Implications of these findings are discussed with respect to planning community-based services that build upon and strengthen family competencies.

Key Words:

• Single parents
• early intervention
• prevention