LATCHKEY CHILDREN - POTENTIAL SOURCES OF SUPPORT

Two studies examined factors facilitating the ability of latchkey chil dren to care for themselves, and to function at a similar level to chi ldren who are under adult care. In the first study, 70 latchkey and 69 non-latchkey children were compared on measures of functioning, and o n bevel of maternal perception of their children as independent. Child ren's level of functioning was not different across the latchkey condi tion. However, contrary to expectations, maternal perception of the ch ild as independent was related to a lower level of fear only among the non-latchkey children. Among latchkey children, in contrast, maternal perception of the child as independent was related to a higher level of anxiety and fears on the part of the child. In the second study, th e association between maternal and extra family support and child func tioning was evaluated in two cohorts: 62 latchkey and 46 non-latchkey children. Results showed that maternal support was associated with fun ctioning level of the non-latchkey children; functioning level of latc hkey children, in contrast, was related to extra family supports. The role of parental and extra family support in the functioning of latchk ey children is discussed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.