Parental Stress and Parent-Child Relationships in Recently Divorced, Custodial Mothers
Parental Stress and Parent-Child Relationships in Recently Divorced, Custodial Mothers

Summary/Abstract: Divorce often creates significant stress that can have an impact on parent-child relationship satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive relationship between parental stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Index, 4 th Edition, Short Form (PSI-4-SF) and the parentchild relationship satisfaction as measured by the Parent-Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) following a separation or divorce. A sample of 17 recently separated or divorced, custodial mothers who had at least one child between the ages 5-13 years were recruited through local schools. Participants completed the PSI-4-SF, the PCRI, and a demographics questionnaire online. A correlation and regression analysis were conducted to analyze the relationship between parental stress and the level of parent-child relationship satisfaction, which was found to possess a significant negative relationship. The stress of the mother was found to affect the parent-child relationship. Neither child gender or child age influenced the relationship between parental stress and parent-child relationship satisfaction. However, mother’s with sons reported higher parental satisfaction than mothers with daughters.

• Details
• Contents