Some Characteristics of Their Family Functions Perceived by Mothers and Children of Single-Mothers

모자가족의 어머니와 자녀가 지각한 가족기능의 특성

The purpose of this study is to find out some characteristics of the family functions of single mothers to provide some useful data for the development of programs which may help single mothers to improve their family functions. The McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) which is composed of problem solving function (PS), communication function (CF), role function (RC), emotional reaction function (ER), emotional involvement (EI), behavioral control function (BC), and general function (GC) and McCubbins' FSI were administered to single mothers and their adolescent children and mothers and their adolescent children of ordinary families (control family). The single mothers' perception of their family function was lower than that of control family mothers in an the 7 categories of FAD. The perceptions of the family function of the single mothers' children were lower than those of control family mothers' children. There was on significant difference between the perceptions of single mothers and their children in PS, ER, EI, GC of their family. However, single mothers' perception in RC and BC was lower than that of their children, and the children's perception in CF were lower than that of their mothers. Single mothers who fall on the period of single motherhood was shorter than 7 years perceived their families' function as lower than that of single mothers' who fall on the periods of single motherhood longer than 7 years in all categories. Generally speaking, the single mothers' family functions were lower than that of control family. The different characteristics of each single mother's family functions should be considered in developing programs for single mothers.