Relação da separação conjugal com as práticas parentais e o comportamento dos filhos

Abstract

This study investigates the parenting practices of mothers in nuclear and single parent families, as well as their children’s behavior in the transition of first grade of elementary school. Participants are 33 nuclear family mothers, 33 single mothers who have been separated for less than three years and 33 single mothers who have been separated for over three years. The instruments used are: a Brazilian measure of socioeconomic status; Parental Practices Inventory; Social Skills Rating System. The last two instruments are found to have good psychometric properties. The ANOVAS indicated that mothers in nuclear families invest more in educating their children and demonstrate more affection to children than recently separated single mothers. However, mothers from different family configurations do not differ regarding the disciplinary practices. The children of nuclear families are more socially skilled and have fewer behavior problems than children from single parent families. It is argued that parenting practices, the time of divorce and the timing of development are important variables that must be considered when investigating the impact of family transitions on children’s development.