title: Stepchildren's perceptions of noncustodial mothers and noncustodial fathers: differences in socioemotional involvement and associations with adolescent adjustment problems.
abstract: Caucasian stepchildren (aged 10-18) in the Nonshared Environment and Adolescent Development (NEAD) project rated noncustodial (NC) parents' socioemotional involvement. Stepfamilies had been together at least 5 years. Adolescents with NC mothers (n = 56) reported more phone calls, mail, overnight visits, and social support than adolescents with NC fathers (n = 143). The association between perceived social support and adolescent adjustment was compared for NC mothers versus NC fathers by using structural equation modeling; the association was stronger for NC mothers. No effects for sex of child or interactions of sex of child/sex of NC parent were obtained. NC fathers might increase their influence in adolescents' lives by behaving more like NC mothers (more frequent phone calls, overnights, etc.).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Calvin College, 1734 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA. mgunnoe@calvin.edu
authors.forename: Marjorie Lindner
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gunnoe
authors.forename: E Mavis
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hetherington
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D002655:Child Custody; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires