A self help group programme for single mothers
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Date
1992
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Abstract
Single parenting is becoming much more common today for a variety of reasons. The single parent family is a result of divorce, desertion or separation, death or having a child illegitimately, Some women make this choice for palitico-feminist reasons, wanting parenthood but being unwilling to cohabit with a man. It may well reflect a deep seated need to prove her independence.
The present study has been motivated by the fact that becoming a single parent is usually a traumatic process with much heated and confused emotion in relationships over and above the basic problem of just one adult figure having to cope with small children.
The aim of the study was to elicit from a group of single mothers their needs, to prioritize these needs, then form an on-going self—help group programme. It was hypothesized that a self-help group programme for single mothers would improve parental attitudes, parenting skills and interpersonal functioning. Parental attitudes, parenting skills and interpersonal functioning were assessed over three assessment periods, i.e. pretest, post test and fallow up. The following psychological measures were used: Maternal chi1d—rearing attitude scale, Parenting skills qualitative and quantitative ratings and Carkhuff scales far levels of interpersonal functioning.
The project consisted of meetings with the group of single mothers at weekly intervals over two months. The group meetings were videotaped for evaluation by independent judges, for levels of interpersonal functioning. A short written qualitative evaluation of the programme was required of the mothers.
After the programme was instituted there was no significant
change in parental attitudes and parenting skills* One can
assume that this group of single mothers had an extensive knowledge of child-rearing practices and parenting skills. This might be so because the group was composed of educated and professiona1 mothers. At the same time one cannot cone 1ude that educated and professional mothers have good parental attitudes and parenting skills because there is no available literature or research findings to support that cone 1usion.
Interpersonal functioning improved remarkedly in terms of
empathy, respect, genuineness and se1f—disc1osure. The single mothers evaluated the programme as goad and helpful to their children. They all wished that the programme could continue.
One of the limitations of the study was the fact that the sample
was small. But the number met the requirements for a group.
Another limitation was that the group only comprised of one category of single mothers, i.e. educated and professional mothers. Perhaps if the group has a mix of categories, i.e. lay mothers and teenage mothers, resu1ts yielded would show a significant change in child—rearing attitudes and parenting skills.
Single motherhood is very stressful. Single mothers find it difficult to cope with the role strain, isolation and 1one1iness. Even though some single mothers might be financially adequate they still need emotional support. Interpersonal functioning is improved if people with a similar problem are put in a group. Members recognize that they are not alone in having an emotional problem. The simple sharing of experiences is an important human need.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology University of Zululand 1992.
Keywords
Self-help groups, Single parents, Parenthood