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Family Structure and Family Processes in Mexican‐American Families
Author(s) -
ZEIDERS KATHARINE H.,
ROOSA MARK W.,
TEIN JENNYUN
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
family process
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.011
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1545-5300
pISSN - 0014-7370
DOI - 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2010.01347.x
Subject(s) - psychology , single parent family , developmental psychology , single parent , association (psychology) , family conflict , clinical psychology , psychotherapist
Despite increases in single‐parent families among Mexican Americans, few studies have examined the association of family structure and family adjustment. Utilizing a diverse sample of 738 Mexican‐American families (21.7% single parent), the current study examined differences across family structure on early adolescent outcomes, family functioning, and parent–child relationship variables. Results revealed that early adolescents in single‐parent families reported greater school misconduct, conduct disorder/oppositional deviant disorder, and major depressive disorder symptoms, and greater parent–child conflict than their counterparts in 2‐parent families. Single‐parent mothers reported greater economic hardship, depression, and family stress. Family stress and parent–child conflict emerged as significant mediators of the association between family structure and early adolescent outcomes, suggesting important processes linking Mexican‐American single‐parent families and adolescent adjustment.