Parent Success Among Single, Low Income, African American Mothers: Implications for BSW Education

Abstract

This study is an exploratory investigation of parent effectiveness among 135 single, low-income African American mothers. This study investigated two aspects of parenting: satisfaction with one's ability to parent and parent effectiveness or ability. The Kansas Parental Satisfaction Scale (James, Schumn, Kennedy, Grigsby & Shectman, 1985) and the Parent Success Indicator for Parents (Strom & Strom, 1998) were used to evaluate these concepts. Results from the study indicate high levels of effective parenting in the group on both measures. This was true regardless of the mother's age, level of income, level of education, number of children, or age of the oldest child. Implications of these findings for social work baccalaureate education are presented.

Black M/Otherhood: A Content Analysis Exploring How Black Mothers Are Represented in Social Work Literature

“…Harris offers no discussion on the role of racism and deeply embedded stereotypes within the child welfare system that contribute to disproportionality. Similarly, Woody’s and Woody’s (2003) study on parent effectiveness among 135 single, low-income Black mothers offers no discussion of systemic oppression but does mention how methodological problems often misrepresent Black single, low-income mothers. Interestingly, their article also highlights how much of the social work professional literature on single, low-income Black mothers is negative.…”

Self-Perceptions of Black Single Mothers Attending College

“…In this context, African American values, practices and families were mostly viewed unfavorably ( Hilliard, 2002 ;Mandara & Murray, 2002 ;McAdoo, 2002 ;Cain & Combs-Orme, 2005 ;Gibson 2005 ;Vereen, 2007 ;Marks, et al ., 2008 ), although some research highlighted the specifi c strengths of the single Black mothers ( Franklin & Boyd-Franklin, 1985 ;Boyd-Franklin, 1989 ;Slaughter-Defoe, Nakagawa, Takanishi, & Johnson, 1990 ;Richards & Schmiege, 1993 ;Luster & McAdoo, 1996 ; Ford-Gil-2 2014, Volume 3, Article 5 Comprehensive Psychology boe, 2000 ; Battle &Coates, 2004 ). Today, the view of a family has changed and a broad variety of family structures, including single parent families are deemed normal ( Richards & Schmiege, 1993 ;Williams, Auslander, Houston, Krebill, & Haire-Joshu, 2000 ;Woody & Woody III, 2003 ;Gibson-Davis, Edin, & McLanahan, 2005 ;Vereen, 2007 ). Single parent families have become the most prevalent family form in the world.…”

“…Single parenting is particularly a burden for Black mothers in the United States, who have been viewed as failures, with inadequate and ineffective parenting, as compared with their married counterparts (Richards & Schmeige, 1993; Simons, et al , 1993; Taylor, Roberts, & Jacobson, 1997; Woody & Woody III, 2003). Consequently, Black family life is misunderstood and negatively viewed (Jenkins, 2005; Woody & Woody III, 2003). Taylor, et al (1997) found moderate positive correlations between relationship problems, family disruptions and health problems among a small sample of single mothers ( N = 79).…”