The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences and specific needs of single parent families while assessing their level of stress raising a developmentally disabled child.

This project entails a curriculum targeted at helping improve the parenting skills of single parents that have children who are considered "at risk" by societal standards. This curriculum is the survival kit for the single parent. Learning the skills provided in this curriculum, the single parent will discover that parenting their "at risk" youth on a positive realm will become a fundamental standard for their lives.

Please read the abstract (Summary) in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Psychology / MA / unrestricted

Ed. D.

The number of children from single-parent families has risen significantly since the 1970s. The stress associated with single-parent status not only places the parent in a precarious state, but also has the tendency to adversely affect the child's academic performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among stress, coping resources, and academic success in a group of children from single-parent families. The study also was designed to access what family factors including race, gender, income level, education level, employment status, and family composition contribute to the academic success of the child. Sixty-seven single-parent families and their oldest elementary school-age child participated in this study. The families' stress level was measured by using the Family Inventory of Life Changes and Events (FILE), while the Family Crisis Orientation Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES) were used to measure the families internal and external coping resources. A child's Resource Questionnaire was used to measure the child's coping resources. Academic success was measured using Grade Point Average (GPA) and Criterion Referenced Tests (CRTs) scores. The results indicated no significant relationship between stress and academic success as measured by GPAs when controlling for gender, race, and resources. However, the education level of the parent, child's gender, and the number of children in the family were family factors found to contribute to academic success when measured by GPAs. When measured by the CRTs, several factors contributed to academic success. In language arts, higher numbers of children in the family were associated with lower language arts scores. tended to score higher than boys. In addition, girls In math, only the child's gender was found to contribute to academic success, with girls tending to score higher than boys. In science, higher numbers of children in the family were linked with lower science CRT scores, while higher family coping resources were associated with higher science CRT scores. In social studies, single mothers were linked with higher CRT scores than single fathers. In addition, higher family stress was associated with lower social studies CRT scores, and white children tended to score higher than minorities. / Ed. D.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Families with a transracially adopted child are confronted with normal family crises, crises due to the adoption as well as challenges specific to a transracial family. When this transracial family is a single-parent family, it could be assumed that the challenges the family faces will be even more. Consequently, the need developed to investigate characteristics and family patterns which contribute to family adaptation in crises in the single-parent family where a child from a different race than the parent has been adopted. The research question in this study was: “What are resilience factors in single-parent transracial families?” The strength perspective formed the basis of this study and the theories of Walsh (2003) and McCubbin and McCubbin (1996) provided the theoretical grounding. An explorative research design was used to address the research question. Data were collected by means of semistructured interviews and conventional content analysis was performed to analyse the data by using the Atlas.ti. computer program. Interviews were conducted with six white women who adopted a child or children from a different race than themselves. These women were all single parents living in the Western Cape, South Africa. At the time of the study, the ages of these transracially adopted children ranged from three to 10 years. A biographical questionnaire and an in-depth interview with each participant were used to collect the data. The results indicated that an important resilience factor in the transracially adopted family is equipping the adopted child with specific skills to cope with crises that may result due to his/her unique situation. Effective preparation of the adoptive mother before adoption, social contact and the support of the extended family were also found to be important resilience factors. Family routines, openness about the adoption and the utilisation of external resources were identified as important sources of resilience for the single-parent transracial family. The results of this study provide important information to the potential transracially adopting parent to prepare him/herself for transracial adoption. The results of this study also provide important information to everyone involved in transracial adoption (for example the social worker) in South-Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesinne met ʼn aangenome kind van ʼn ander ras as die ouer(s) word gekonfronteer met alle normale gesinskrisisse, krisisse wat ontstaan weens die aanneming, sowel as uitdagings wat spesifiek aan ʼn transrasgesin gestel word. Indien die transrasgesin ʼn enkelouergesin is, kan daar verwag word dat verdere uitdagings aan hierdie gesin gestel sal word. Gevolglik het die vraag ontstaan watter gesinskenmerke en -patrone ʼn bydrae lewer tot gesinsaanpassing in krisissituasies in enkelouergesinne waar ʼn kind van ʼn ander ras as die ouer aangeneem is. Gevolglik was die navorsingsvraag in hierdie ondersoek: “Wat is veerkragtigheidskenmerke van enkelouer-transrasgesinne?” Die sterkteperspektief het as uitgangspunt vir hierdie studie gedien en die teorieë van Walsh (2003) en McCubbin en McCubbin (1996) is as teoretiese grondslag benut. ʼn Eksploratiewe navorsingsontwerp is gebruik om die navorsingsvraag te ondersoek. Data is deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude ingesamel en konvensionele inhoudsontleding is gedoen om ingesamelde data met behulp van die Atlas.tirekenaarprogram te ontleed. Onderhoude is met ses wit vroue wat ʼn kind of kinders van ʼn ander ras as hulself aangeneem het, gevoer. Hierdie vroue is almal enkelouers en woonagtig in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Tydens die ondersoek het die ouderdomme van die transrasaangenome kinders gewissel tussen drie en 10 jaar. ʼn Biografiese vraelys en ʼn diepgaande onderhoud met elke deelnemer is gebruik om data in te samel. Daar is bevind dat ʼn belangrike veerkragtigheidsfaktor in die transrasaangenome gesin is om die transrasaangenome kind toe te rus met vaardighede om potensiële krisisse rakende sy/haar transrasaangenome status effektief te hanteer. Die effektiewe voorbereiding van die moeder voor aanneming, sosiale kontak en die ondersteuning van die uitgebreide familie is ook as belangrike veerkragtigheidsfaktore in die transrasgesin geïdentifiseer. Spesifieke gesinspatrone, openlikheid oor die aanneming en die benutting van eksterne hulpbronne help ook die transrasgesin om krisissituasies effektief te hanteer. Hierdie inligting is ʼn belangrike hulpbron vir potensiële aanneemouers ten einde hulle effektief voor te berei vir die aanneming van ʼn kind van ʼn ander ras as hulself. Die resultate van hierdie studie verskaf ook belangrike inligting aan die ondersteuningspartye (byvoorbeeld die maatskaplike werker) wat betrokke is by transrasaanneming in Suid-Afrika.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the social support networks of single mothers. The basic premise underlying this research is the importance of social workers' understanding of the social support networks of single mothers. It is necessary for social workers to identify the social support systems that exist in a social support network, and to select those systems which would be relevant to the needs of the single mother. The aim of this study is to present guidelines for social workers to empower single mothers to utilise social support networks to fulfil their roles as parents. The research report includes identifying personal information, issues faced by singleparent families, the nature of single-parenthood, emotional and functional changes experienced since becoming a single mother and the social support networks of single mothers. Knowledge of these indicators will increase the awareness of social workers of the needs of single mothers. The research report includes identifying personal information, issues faced by singleparent families, the nature of single-parenthood, emotional and functional changes experienced since becoming a single mother and the social support networks of single mothers. Knowledge of these indicators will increase the awareness of social workers of the needs of single mothers.The research report includes identifying personal information, issues faced by singleparent families, the nature of single-parenthood, emotional and functional changes experienced since becoming a single mother and the social support networks of single mothers. Knowledge of these indicators will increase the awareness of social workers of the needs of single mothers. The research report includes identifying personal information, issues faced by singleparent families, the nature of single-parenthood, emotional and functional changes experienced since becoming a single mother and the social support networks of single mothers. Knowledge of these indicators will increase the awareness of social workers of the needs of single mothers. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to explore the theoretical part of the research. This section was divided into two phases. The first phase was devoted to acquiring a sufficient understanding of the nature of what single-parenthood with an emphasis on single mothers, and also to get a better understanding of the single mothers' existing social support network. The second phase included conducting interviews with the single mothers (N=10) with the help of a questionnaire. The findings and responses of the respondents were analyzed and compared with the findings from previous studies undertaken by various authors. The findings of this research can be used as guidelines for social workers who need to assist a single mother with a need or problem, and more specifically can help the single mother to utilize her social support network. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die maatskaplike ondersteuningsnetwerke van enkel moeders. Die uitgangspunt van die navorsing is dat dit belangrik is dat maatskaplike werkers begrip sal hê vir die maatskaplike ondersteuningsnetwerke van enkelmoeders. Dis belangrik dat maatskaplike werkers die maatskaplike ondersteunings sisteme wat in die maatskaplike ondersteuningsnetwerk bestaan sal identifiseer, en om dan die sisteme wat relevant is tot die behoeftes van die enkelmoeder te selekteer. Die doel van die studie is om riglyne daar te stel vir maatskaplike werkers om enkelmoeders te bemagtig om maatskaplike ondersteuningsnetwerke te gebruik om hul rol as ouers te vervul. Die navorsings verslag sluit die volgende in: identifiserende persoonlike inligting, probleme wat enkelouer gesinne kan ondervind, die aard van enkelmoederskap, emosionele en funsionele veranderinge ondervind sedert enkelmoederskap en die maatskaplike ondersteuningsnetwerke van enkelmoeders in, Kennis van hierdie indikatore sal maatskaplike werkers se bewustheid van die behoeftes van enkel moeders verhoog. Vir die empiriese navorsing is kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes gebruik om die teoretiese aspekte van die navorsing te ondersoek. Hierdie afdeling is in twee fases verdeel. Die eerste fase is uitgevoer om genoegsame begrip te verkry van die aard van enkelouerskap met die klem op enkelmoeders, asook om 'n beter begrip te kry van die enkelmoeder se bestaande maatskaplike ondersteuningsnetwerk. Die tweede fase behels die voer van onderhoude met enkelmoeders (N=10) met behulp van 'n vraelys, in Guguletu. Resultate en respondense is ontleed en vergelyk met die bevindinge van vorige studies wat deur verskillende navorsers onderneem is. Die bevindinge van die navorsing kan deur maatskaplike werkers gebruik word as riglyne om enkelmoeders wat behoeftes of probleme ondervind by te staan, en die enkel moeder meer spesifiek kan help om haar maatskaplike ondersteuningsnetwerk te gebruik.

There has been a transformation in family structure in Thailand due to the changes in economic and social structures over time. Though not recorded in census data the rise in single-parent families can be expected due to a rise in divorce rates, that have been recorded, over the past decades. However, the literature on single-parent families is limited and little is known about the experiences of single-mothers and children of singlemother families in Thailand. This study examines the factors that have major impacts on the well-being of children of single-parent families in Bangkok, Thailand. A qualitative methodology was employed to study the lived experiences from the point of views of 20 divorced single-mothers and 20 adult children from a different sample of divorced single-mother families in Bangkok, Thailand. Altogether 40 semistructured interviews were conducted in Bangkok, Thailand during June and July of 2010. Three theoretical frameworks, including family and household decision making theories, the life-course perspective, and the family composition perspective were applicable in this study to provide an understanding of how economic and social structures play an important role in the dissolution of marriages and how family composition plays an important role in the well-being of children. The findings of this study shed light on the lived experiences of participants and revealed the important factors that influence the well-being of children of single-mother families. The major factors include financial resources, parenting styles and discipline, and social supports. In addition, this study has implications for developing programs to assist and facilitate the well-being of single-parent families, strengthening the relationship within extended families, and eradicating the negative assumptions that are often associated with single-parent families.

This is a descriptive study of the statistical association between the amounts of financial—emotional supports available and their impact on the degree of difficulty in the performance of the parental roles of a nonrandom sample of eighty-six Mexican-American female single parents from McAllen, Texas. The sample was divided into four socioeconomic status categories. A total of twenty-nine variables were correlated: twenty independent, financial-emotional and nine dependent parental performance variables. The twenty variables were defined in terms of socioeconomic resources: child-care availability and satisfaction, nature of personal/children problems, and frequency of interaction with significant others defined emotional supports. Parental role performances were defined in terms of having children with medical, learning or emotional problems, and the degree of difficulty in caring for sick children, spending time with them, yelling and screaming, use of corporal punishment and feeling overwhelmed by parental demands. Analyses indicated that these families functioned in a stable and viable manner, with little evidence of disintegration or "pathology." The parents had extensive social networks comprised of kin# coworkers, and friends, and they interacted with these support people on a regular basis, usually several times per week, but at the same time the parents rarely interacted with the ex-husbands or ex-in-laws, The majority of ex—husbands had never made any support payments and rarely saw their children. The single parents did not evidence unmanageable problems in caring for their children, or in asserting control and authority over them. Corporal punishment, yelling and screaming, and other discipline problems were minimal issues, and were not more severe or serious than before the divorce. The mothers were satisfied with the available child-care and the general growth of their children, but felt they continuously carried a tremendous burden, and all indications are that, even with sources of different kinds and levels of support. Finally, a number of recommendations were made for further research hypotheses, issues, and public policy formulations.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T14:42:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rafaella Martins Oliveira.pdf: 1563880 bytes, checksum: 1192adc0662942332204ef7c935bea7b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / The historical contexts that set the tone for the housing policy in Brazil were quite varied, up until the arrival of the “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” program (“My Home, My Life”, in English), which prioritized families where the woman is responsible for the family unit. This focus correlates historical relations between women, families, social protection networks, and private property, which directly impacted the ways families are formed and configured in Brazil, having a direct effect on the effectivity of public policies regarding housing. In observing this issue, the aim was to comprehend the socioeconomic demands of single-parent families where a woman is the one responsible for the family unit, within the context of the “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” program, “level 1”, in the city of Ponta Grossa, Paraná. In order to seize the topic, it was necessary to undertake an interdisciplinary study, supported by bibliographic and documental research, as well as interviews, developing the research via a qualitative approach with case study. Quantitative data was also utilized, through data gathering with PROLAR (“Housing Company of Ponta Grossa”, in English), which enabled the identification of the socioeconomic profile of the group under analysis – people who expressed their vulnerability and the necessity to have access to housing through the referenced program. The research was deepened by gathering information from the subjects of this process, who were divided into two subgroups in order to be interviewed, aiming to discover their expectations regarding the new housing. Besides families that still wait for the project to deliver, the study also took into consideration people living in five previouslyinstalled housing complexes: Atenas, Boreal, Gralha Azul, Recanto Verde, and Roma. In order to do so, the study was divided into three chapters. The first one deals with the formation of Brazil’s housing policy, showing the influence of the Welfare State and Neoliberalism regarding this issue, up to the implementation of the “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” program.The second chapter pertains to the condition of female-headedsingle-parent families, more specifically the ones in a situation of poverty and social vulnerability, as well as their adaptation to a new logic of the State. Finally, the third chapter sees a characterization of the universe of this study, following the analysis of the interviews. It then became a goal to contribute to the construction of knowledge regarding the network of social protection, especially in relation to female single-parents, considering the State’s performance as the entity responsible for public policies. / Os contextos históricos que marcaram a política habitacional brasileira foram os mais diversos até que se chegasse ao Programa “Minha Casa, Minha Vida”, que priorizou, dentre seus escopos, as famílias que têm a mulher como responsável pela unidade familiar. Este enfoque correlaciona as relações históricas entre a mulher, a família, a rede de proteção social e a propriedade privada, o que impactou nos modelos e formas de configuração familiar no Brasil, afetando diretamente a efetividade das políticas públicas destinadas à habitação. Observando esta problemática, objetivou-se compreender as demandas socioeconômicas das famílias monoparentais que têm as mulheres como responsáveis pela unidade familiar no contexto do Programa “Minha Casa, Minha Vida”, “faixa 1”, na cidade de Ponta Grossa –Estado do Paraná. Para apreensão desse tema, fez-se necessário empreender um estudo interdisciplinar, subsidiado por pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e realização de entrevistas, utilizando-se de abordagem qualitativa com estudo de caso para o seu desenvolvimento. Foram utilizados, ainda, dados quantitativos, por meio do levantamento de dados junto à Companhia de Habitação de Ponta Grossa – PROLAR, na cidade de Ponta Grossa – Estado do Paraná, que possibilitaram identificar o perfil socioeconômico do grupo em análise, que expressaram sua vulnerabilidade e a necessidade do acesso à moradia por meio de referido programa. A pesquisa foi aprofundada por meio da coleta de informações junto aos sujeitos deste processo, que foram divididos em dois subgrupos para a realização da entrevista com o fim de desvendar suas expectativas em relação à nova moradia. Além das famílias que ainda aguardam a entrega do empreendimento, o estudo levou em conta pessoas residentes nos imóveis de cinco dos conjuntos habitacionais já instalados: Atenas, Boreal, Gralha Azul, Recanto Verde e Roma. Para tanto, o presente trabalho foi dividido em três capítulos. No primeiro deles, tratou-se da formação da política habitacional brasileira, demonstrando-se a influência do Estado de Bem-Estar Social e do Neoliberalismo nessa questão, até a implantação do Programa “Minha Casa, Minha Vida”. No segundo capítulo, analisou-se a situação das famílias monoparentais com a mulher responsável pela unidade familiar em situação de pobreza e vulnerabilidade social e sua adaptação à nova lógica do Estado. Por fim, no terceiro capítulo, caracterizou-se o universo da pesquisa, tendo sido feita a análise das entrevistas realizadas. A partir do presente estudo, buscou-se, então, contribuir para a construção de conhecimento sobre a rede de proteção social, especificamente destinada às mulheres chefes de família monoparental, considerando a atuação do Estado enquanto responsável pela promoção de políticas públicas.