| The purposes of this study were to assess the role of family structure as related to elementary school children's social competence as perceived by their mothers and to identify specific parenting styles and family environment characteristics that predicted elementary school children's social competence as perceived by their mothers. Toward these ends, models that portrayed the relation among selected demographic, parenting style, and family environment variables and the mother-perceived social competence of elementary school children from single mother and two parent families were constructed and applied to each family type. These models were based upon a multidimensional definition of social competence proffered by several researchers (Achenbach, 1991; McGee & Williams, 1991; Werner & Smith, 1982). For the models presented, a total of eight independent variables were tested, including race of family, socioeconomic status, child gender, parenting style and family environment variables. Of approximately 500 mothers who received information packets, 124 mothers (73 in intact families, 51 from divorced families) completed the survey. Data were analyzed through t-tests, correlational, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results indicated that family structure did not play a significant role in the social competence levels of elementary school children as perceived by their mothers. Results from testing the overall model indicated mothers who reported being less permissive and whose families were highly organized and exercised a moderate level of control perceived their children as higher in social competence. Also, White mothers perceived their children as possessing a significantly higher degree of social competence than did African American mothers. When this overall model was applied specifically to the mothers from both intact and single mother families, the race of the family proved to be a significant influence for mothers from each type of family. As in the overall model, White mothers perceived their children to be more socially competent than did African-American mothers. However, the level of control within the family proved a significant variable for mothers from intact families while it only approached significance for single mothers. All mothers who perceived their children to be higher in social competence reported fewer rules and less enforcement of them by punishment. Implications of this study for parents and researchers are presented. |