THE IMPACT OF MOTHERS PARENTING, INVOLVEMENT BY NONRESIDENTIAL FATHERS, AND PARENTAL CONFLICT ON THE ADJUSTMENT OF ADOLESCENT CHILDREN

The present study used panel data on 207 divorced women and their chil dren to examine the influence of mothers' parenting practices, involve ment of nonresidential fathers, and parental conflict on the adjustmen t of adolescents living in mother-headed households. In addition, the study investigated the possibility that child adjustment problems may be a cause, as well as a consequence, of parental behavior. Quality of parenting by nonresidential fathers was related to externalizing prob lems for boys and girls, although the results differed somewhat depend ing on the source of data used to assess father's parenting. Quality o f mother's parenting showed an association with externalizing problems of boys and girls, and was also related to internalizing problems for boys. Parental conflict was associated with internalizing problems fo r boys but not girls. Finally, adolescent externalizing problems appea red to reduce the quality of mother's parenting for both boys and girl s, and to diminish father involvement in parenting in the case of boys .