Differences in ratings of children's adjustment by married mothers experiencing low marital conflict, married mothers experiencing high marital conflict, and divorced single mothers: A nationwide study
Lawrence, A. Kurdek
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 12(3): 289-305
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0193-3973 DOI: 10.1016/0193-3973(91)90002-lDocument Number: 248273
This study examined differences in the ratings of adjustment of 1- to 18-year-old children provided by three groups of mothers: those experiencing low marital conflict, those experiencing high marital conflict, and those separated/divorced and single (ns = 204, 184, and 619, respectively). Data were derived from the National Survey of Households and Families. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that with controls for children's age and children's sex, married mothers experiencing low marital conflict rated their child more favorably than did the other two groups of mothers. When the marital status effect was significant, it accounted for only an additional 1 to 3 % of the variance in mothers' ratings. Furthermore, it persisted with controls for both mothers' depression and socioeconomic variables. Marital status effects did not interact either with children's sex or with children's age.