THE IMPACT OF MOTHERS PARENTING, INVOLVEMENT BY NONRESIDENTIAL FATHERS, AND PARENTAL CONFLICT ON THE ADJUSTMENT OF ADOLESCENT CHILDREN

The present study used panel data on 207 divorced women and their children to examine the influence of mothers' parenting practices, involvement of nonresidential fathers, and parental conflict on the adjustment of adolescents living in mother-headed households. In addition, the study investigated the possibility that child adjustment problems may be a cause, as well as a consequence, of parental behavior. Quality of parenting by nonresidential fathers was related to externalizing problems for boys and girls, although the results differed somewhat depending on the source of data used to assess father's parenting. Quality of mother's parenting showed an association with externalizing problems of boys and girls, and was also related to internalizing problems for boys. Parental conflict was associated with internalizing problems for boys but not girls. Finally, adolescent externalizing problems appeared to reduce the quality of mother's parenting for both boys and girls, and to diminish father involvement in parenting in the case of boys.