title: Stress, coping, and life change in the single-parent family.
abstract: Self-perceived competence in three roles (parent, social participant, self-supporter) was examined in relation to life satisfaction in a sample of 47 divorced, employed, single parent, middle-income women. Parenting was found to be the role of greatest perceived competence, and self-supporter the role of lowest perceived competence. Competence as a self-supporter was the strongest predictor of life satisfaction. Life satisfaction did not differ significantly between groups defined by length of time as single parents. For women separated less than 3 years, the social participant was the role of least perceived competence and the best predictor of life satisfaction. For those separated more than 3 years, the three roles were nearly equal in perceived competence, but competence as self-supporter was the best predictor of life satisfaction.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002668:Child Rearing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012380:Role; D012649:Self Concept; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors