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Parental Mental Illness, Family Living Arrangements, and Child Behavior

NCJ Number
114624
Journal
Journal of Social Service Research Volume: 11 Issue: 2/3 Dated: (1988) Pages: 21-34
Author(s)
A R Stiffman; K G Jung; R A Feldman
Date Published
1988
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The association between family living arrangements and children's behavior problems is examined in 306 children with mentally ill parents.
Abstract
Children living with alternative families (with adoptive or foster parents or with other relatives) display fewer behavior problems than children living with two biological parents, a single biological parent, or a biological and a stepparent. The proportion of mentally ill family members and the degree of mother-child discord explain the variations in children's behavior problems among the different living arrangements. Thus, in placement decisions, the prevailing legal principal of safeguarding the integrity of the child's biological family should be weighed against the mother-child relationship and the mental health of the family members. (Author abstract)