SINGLE PARENTING IN FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Rearing a child with disabilities is a challenge, perhaps even more so for single parents who most often are women. Stress and negative psyc hological effects have been considered likely outcomes for parents of children with disabilities. With the increased family focus in the pro vision of services for children with disabilities, it becomes even mor e important to understand the sources of stress and the types of adapt ations made in these families. The research literature was analyzed an d similar results were found. Single mothers of children with disabili ties often were younger, had less education, and lower incomes. Few st udies included these socio-economic factors. Findings indicate that gr oss differences between single- and two-parent mothers tended to becom e nonsignificant when maternal education and income were taken into ac count. Stress levels and adaptation were not pervasively different for single mothers and mothers who were parenting with a partner, after S ES variables were controlled. On a few dimensions-including family har mony, integration, and cohesion-some studies found mothers in single p arent families to be at a slight disadvantage relative to two parent f amilies. Research findings indicate that other factors need to be cons idered in research and in provision of services to understand the inte rplay between stress and adaptation and to facilitate the family's cop ing. Further study is needed on factors on two levels; task demands an d emotional responses, the diversity among mothers, their life situati ons, and their task demands must be recognized, and socioeconomic cond itions and participation by other adults in care-giving. Positive adap tation by single mothers of children who have disabilities is a reason able expectation; services should build upon family strengths and comp etencies.