The Significance of Social Support on Parenting Among a Group of Single, Low-Income, African American Mothers

This study investigates social support among a cohort of low-income African American single mothers (N = 135) and its potential to influence the quality of their parenting. Social support was measured using The Social Support Behaviors (SS-B) Scale, which measures support from family and friends. Two aspects of parenting were investigated, including the mother's satisfaction with her parenting (measured using the Kansas Parental Satisfaction Scale) and the mother's success and effectiveness as parents (measured by the Parent Success Indicator for Parents). Mothers reported high levels of parent satisfaction and high levels of parent success. Mothers also described high levels of social support from friends and family. A minimal relationship was found between social support and parenting. Results also indicate a stronger relationship between support from family and parenting. Implications of these outcomes for psychosocial development and professional social work with single low-income African American mothers and their families are discussed. (C) 2007 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.