Parental Discipline Strategies in Single-Parent Families

Abstract

The publication is based on the author`s studies conducted in Moscow in 2008-2009 and considers discipline parental practices in single-parent families. “Parental style” and “parental practices” are among the key characteristics of family and parent-child relationship. The discipline strategies in single-parent families were supposed to be different from that of complete family by the lack of physical punishment. The findings show that deviation of the quantitative parameters of the family is differently related to the quality of parent-child relationship; the financial, social and psychological problems that a sole mother faces have impact on the internal relations within a family and on parental style. In a single-parent family the conception of parent-child relationship imply that the level of trust and proximity of a child to mother defines the child`s character, behavior and discipline practices that mother applies to her child. The dominant parental style in a single-parent family is authoritative.