Adjustment of young adolescents in two-parent nuclear, stepfather, and mother-custody families.

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Abstract
This study examined differences in the psychological adjustment (self-reports of global severity of psychopathology, goal directedness, and school-related problems) and correlates of the psychological adjustment of 234 seventh- and ninth-grade students who resided in two-parent nuclear (intact) families, stepfather families, or mother-custody divorced families. These three family structures were equivalent, or were equated statistically, on demographic and socioeconomic variables. Adjustment was unrelated to family structure, gender, and grade or to any interactions among these variables. However, trends in the correlates of adjustment were similar for adolescents in each of the three family-structure groups. Generally, adjustment was negatively related to family conflict and to the use of externalizing coping strategies; was positively related to the family dimensions of cohesion, expressiveness, and personal growth; and was positively related to social support from friends. Cur- rent models of adolescent adjustment are discussed, and the limitations of self-report data are noted.

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