"The primary goal of this study was to identify major factors affecting maladaptive behaviors
of children in single-mother families. The participants were 141 children from 4th to 6th grade in elementary school, Daejeon City. The data for this study were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, correlation analysis, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. The major findings were as follows.
First, the severity of maladaptive behavior among participants was relatively low. Second, the analysis of variance in maladaptive behavior showed statistically significance for sex, physical health and self-esteem. Third, the family-related variables such as existence of sibling, mother's parenting attitude and family functioning were significantly correlated with the dependent variable. Fourth, the extent of school adaptation was negatively correlated with maladaptive behavior of participants. Fifth, satisfaction of community environment, one of the community-related factors in this study, was negatively associated with the dependent variable.
Finally, multiple regression analysis revealed that the school adaptation, self-esteem and parenting attitudes, sex emerged as the major significant predictors of maladaptive behavior of children in single-mother families.
Based on the results, a more comprehensive perspective considering a child's family and community environment should be considered for social work intervention. Most of all, children in single-mother households would be empowered through self-esteem improvement program and social skill program. In addition, it was recommended to provide female parents with various
education programs such as good parenting skills, communication skills and self-efficacy improvement programs. Through these programs, single-mothers and children might strengthen their emotional ties so that they could reconstruct their vulnerable environment more productively.
Key Words : single-mother family, children, parenting attitude, school adaptation, maladaptive behavior"