Coping Mechanism

Coping is difficult to
operationalize because many
factors are involved, varying in
function, mode and outcome.
McCubbin and Patterson 1983
are of the view that coping
involves psychological resources
and strategies that
Coping is difficult to
operationalize because many
factors are involved, varying in
function, mode and outcome.
McCubbin and Patterson 1983
are of the view that coping
involves psychological resources
and strategies that
Coping is difficult to
operationalize because many
factors are involved, varying in
function, mode and outcome.
McCubbin and Patterson 1983
are of the view that coping
involves psychological resources
and strategies that
Coping is difficult to
operationalize because many
factors are involved, varying in
function, mode and outcome.
McCubbin and Patterson 1983
are of the view that coping
involves psychological resources
and strategies that
Coping is difficult to
operationalize because many
factors are involved, varying in
function, mode and outcome.
McCubbin and Patterson 1983
are of the view that coping
involves psychological resources
and strategies that
Coping is difficult to
operationalize because many
factors are involved, varying in
function, mode and outcome.
McCubbin and Patterson 1983
are of the view that coping
involves psychological resources
and strategies that
Coping is difficult to
operationalize because many
factors are involved, varying in
function, mode and outcome.
McCubbin and Patterson 1983
are of the view that coping
involves psychological resources
and strategies that
inate, modify or manage a difficult
situation. According to Lazarus
(1991), how parents respond to the
challenges of raising their children
depends on a wide variety of
factors influe
inate, modify or manage a difficult
situation. According to Lazarus
(1991), how parents respond to the
challenges of raising their children
depends on a wide variety of
factors influe
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
344518268_INVESTIGATING_THE_COPING_STRATEGIES_OF_SINGLE_P
ARENTS_IN_KPEDZE_TRADITIONAL_AREA_IN_THE_VOLTA_REGION_
OF_GHANA#:~:text=The%20strategies%20employed%20by%20the,%2C%20re
%2Dmarriage%20among%20others.
Note: Tee to isa sa nahanap ko link nalang sinend ko diko kase
macopy paste per nasa taas banda
International Journal of Innovative
Research and Knowledge
Volume-3 Issue-3, March-2018
www.ijirk.com
Page | 95
help to eliminate, modify or
manage a difficult situation.
According to Lazarus (1991), how
parents respond to the
challenges o
Stress Theory
The study of stress in humans began to rise decades ago with the publication of
Holmes and Rahe’s (1967) checklist of major life changes and their associated
readjustments. Thoits (1995) indicated that exposure to negative events and social
statuses of the disadvantaged social groups are more vulnerable to stressors than
groups that are not disadvantaged. Thoits conducted a study comparing similar
levels of impact to stress among women, the elderly, the unmarried, and those with
low socioeconomic statuses. Thoits found evidence showing that there were higher
levels of psychological distress or depression in the low economic population than
their counterparts. Mothers who raise children alone often are faced with
vulnerability which can lead to emotional instability (Thoits, 1995). Building a
support system will increase stability, but without support, single mothers begin to
fit into the category of the disadvantage social group. Thoits emphasized not all
socially disadvantaged groups are generally vulnerable to all types of stress.
According to Thoits, “When cumulative indices of events or strains are
disaggregated into particular types of stressors (e.g., love loss events, income loss
events, uncontrollable events, and so on), different groups appear to be vulnerable
to specific subsets of stressors instead” (p. 55). Women seem to be more
vulnerable to attachments, or events that happened to loved ones among their
social network such as declined health, becoming unemployed, divorce or loss of a
love one.
Stress
Single mothers are vulnerable to stressful life experiences when parenting. While
searching for employment, the single mother’s education will often determine the
type of job she finds. Mothers with a higher education tend to report less parenting
anxiety and experience less constriction while reporting more joy and new
meaning to life (Nomaguchi & Brown, 2011). Thoits (2010) found “early stress
research in psychology and soci

Coping Theory
The concept of coping exists among previous studies involving individuals with
minor and major events. It began to spread during the 1960s and 1970s along the
interest in stress. Lazarus’s (1993) views of coping theory had begun to change in
the late 1970s. Lazarus no longer viewed coping as a major standing. Instead,
Lazarus treated coping in a different approach, which in turn, people were treated
based on their behavior and action. From a coping perspective, Lazarus found that
coping reflected every aspect of a situation based on the occurrences of condition
and circumstance that will change over a period of time. Lazarus conducted a study
using ways of coping and adopted the ideas of using other scales demonstrating
related viewpoint and methods. In the research, Lazarus found that some coping
strategies were somewhat consistent, and others were very consistent across
stressful encounters. For an example, "seeking social support was very
inconsistent, whereas positive reappraisal was modestly—but insignificant
statistically— consistent" (Lazarus, p. 238). Lazarus (1993) emphasized that
“approaches to coping as style

NOTE: Eto sinama ko na baka makatulong din about sa history ng stress and
coping
Stress theories were chosen for this study in efforts to understand and further
identify the stressful situations in the lives of single mothers and the factors that
contribute to their stress. Stress involves environmental and major life changes that
exist among many mothers who are single. As mentioned previously, Lazarus
referred stress to a particular kind of relationship between a person and
environment, in turn relates to the purpose of this study. Coping theories were
chosen in this study to address the minor and major events of an individual
problem or situation. This theory will help identify the occurrences and
circumstances of single mothers and how they manage their responses to stressors.
The consistency of coping strategies will be used to support this study.

NOTE: eto naman is about sa single father na mas Malaki kinikita kesa sa
single mother baka makatulong din
Parenting behavior of divorced custodial mothers and fathers raises consequences
for both parent and child (Hilton & Desrochers, 2000). In most cases, the father’s
income is twice as higher than the mother’s income, which in turn, creates
economic strain for the mother (Hilton & Desrochers, 2000). Previous research
found 27 that children who live with their father experience less behavior problems
than children who live with their mother (Lee, 2003). Although mothers may
experience children with behavior problems, there are intervention programs
designed for both parents and children that include comprehensive components
targeting at-risk groups that will better contribute to well-being of mothers and
ultimately for their children (Lee, 2003).

Coping Mehanism
Many mothers are finding ways to cope and survive as single parents. Nonfamily
and social supports often become barriers for single mothers. There are mothers
who simply do not have close relationships with family members and have limited
resources in child care support or either finances simply does not permit them to
afford it. Coohey (2007) conducted a study on mothers to determine whether
negligence of child care supervision of from family and friends is related to why
some mothers receive less 28 child care.
Physical and Mental Health problem
Single mothers suffer excessively higher rates of physical and mental illness
compared to mothers who are not single (Cairney, Boyle, Offord, and Racine,
2003). In another study, Crosier, Butterworth, & Rodgers (2007) found that single
mothers tend to experience poor mental health associated with financial hardship
and lack of social support than coupled mothers
. There is a higher rate of physical and mental illnesses among single mothers than
mothers who are not single which creates vulnerability and instability. Although
physical and mental health rates are higher in single mothers, Cairney et al. found
that single mothers are less reactive to negative events due to their previous
experience of stress and strain. They have become acclimated to dealing with
adversity. Married mothers lack the experience of adversity to safeguard the
impact of negative events.
Reference
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=3441&context=dissertations
Self-coping mechanism
Hamilton, Shobe, Murphy-Erby, and Christy (2012) reported that the heads
of household had engaged in several short and long-term strategies to help make
ends meet. The strategies used, including borrowing money, and thus creating
long-term financial burdens; other approaches include taking a second job and
tightening their budget that offers fewer long-term difficulties. This is contrary to
what has been reported by the United Nations (2001) on the type of coping
strategies by single women which involve manipulative informal sector work,
including pushing children into child labor, begging and worse, sex work. Despite
the mushrooming of studies on antecedents of financial security (Haines et al.,
2009; Lange et al., 2012b; Mahal et al., 2012; Miron-shatz, 2009; Suwanrada,
2009). The health and psychological aspect of self-coping mechanisms and
financial security as the outcome have not been studied before.
Reference:
https://www.ijcwed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IJCWED3_28.pdf
Coping
Coping may be defined as the individual's efforts to manage intemal or
external demands that are appraised as exceedi~1g the individual's resources
(Folkman & Moskowitz, 2004). Lazarus (1991) proposed a process used when
making the decision to cope, whether it be managing the practicalities of an issue
(problem-focussed coping), or managing the emotional effect of the issue
(emotion-focused coping). Problem-focused coping was usually instigated when
the individual felt the situation or condition could be improved, whereas emotion-
focused coping was often utilised when the person felt a need to endure the
situation, addressing the emotional part of the situation (Carver, Weintraub, &
Scheier, 1989). One style of coping may be used as a standalone process, or both
styles employed concurrently, with one style more adaptive in a pmiicular situation
dependent on context (Folkman & SINGLE MOTHERS' EXPERIENCES AND
RESILIENCE 14 Moskowitz, 2004). Research has suggested that problem-focused
coping was associated with a high level of perceived control and resilience, whilst
emotion-focused coping reflected a low level of perceived control and resilience
(Campbell-Sills et al., 2006; Folkman & Moskowitz, 2004). Leipold and Grieve
(2009) argued that both coping and development were important for resilience.

Problem of Single parents (financial)

The results of the study revealed that financial problem was the main
stressor for majority of the single mothers. The emotional life of the single
mother was also affected by their single status. Majority of the single mother
reported that they felt lonely, helpless, hopeless, lack of identity and lack of
confidence. In social sphere majority of single mothers tried to avoid
attending social gatherings and had changed their dressing style due to
depression they had develop poor food and eating habits. Majority of the
single mothers found it hard to maintain discipline among the children due
to absence of male members. The mothers complained about loneliness,
traumatic and depression and found it difficult to handle the responsibility of
childcare and to establish a routine for her children.
Reference:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09718923.2009.11892771#:~:
text=Majority%20of%20the%20single%20mother,poor%20food%20and
%20eating%20habits.

Note: Sa coping strategies may mga theory si Lazarus and Folkman

pwede ka din magdagdag meron din sya about sa stress how to
cope ganern
Coping Mechanism

Lazarus and Folkman (1984) thought of stress as an interactive process

between the person and their surroundings, in which the influence of stressful
events on physical and psychological well-being is determined by coping.
From this widely accepted transactional approach, coping would come to be
defined by cognitive and behavioral efforts employed in response to external
or internal demands that the individual deems to be threats to their well-
being.
Despite the documentation of more than 400 coping strategies (Skinner et al.,
2003), they are generally categorized into two broad types (for a complete
categorization, see Zimmer-Gembeck and Skinner, 2016): approach (also
called active) strategies and evasive (or disengagement) strategies. Approach
strategies involve cognitive and behavioral mechanisms aimed at making an
active response to the stressor, directly changing the problem (primary
control) or the negative emotions associated with it (secondary control). This
category includes strategies such as planning, taking specific action, seeking
support (instrumental and emotional), positive reappraisal of the situation, or
acceptance. Evasive strategies are those which involve cognitive and
behavioral mechanisms used to evade the stressful situation, such as
distraction, denial, and wishful thinking. Based on this classification, there is a
broad consensus that approach strategies are related to good academic,
physical, and psychological adjustment (Clarke, 2006; Syed and Seiffge-
Krenke, 2015; Gustems-Carnicer et al., 2019), whereas evasive strategies
usually mean maladaptive consequences for the students (Tavolacci et al.,
2013; Deasy et al., 2014; Skinner et al., 2016; Tran and Lumley, 2019).

Reference:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00841/full#:~:text=Lazaru
s%20and%20Folkman%20(1984)%20thought,being%20is%20determined%20by
%20coping.

Coping stress
There are many ways that people strive to cope with stressors and feelings of stress in
their lives. A host of literature, both popular and academic, extols the practice of
stress management and whole industries are devoted to it. Many techniques are
available to help individuals cope with the stresses that life brings. Some of the
techniques listed in Figure 16.6, “Stress Management Techniques,”  induce a lower
than usual stress level temporarily to compensate the biological tissues involved;
others face the stressor at a higher level of abstraction. Stress management techniques
are more general and range from cognitive (mindfulness, cognitive therapy,
meditation) to physical (yoga, art, natural medicine, deep breathing) to environmental
(spa visits, music, pets, nature).
Stress Coping
as described by researchers such as Lazarus and Folkman, implies a more specific
process of cognitive appraisal to determine whether an individual believes he or she
has the resources to respond effectively to the challenges of a stressor or change
(Folkman & Lazarus, 1988; Lazarus & Folkman, 1987). The appraisal literature
explains the response or coping process in terms of problem-focused coping or
emotion-focused coping (Folkman & Lazarus, 1980; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), also
referred to as active and passive coping styles (Jex, Bliese, Buzzell, & Primeau,
2001). As well, approach and avoidance-style measures of coping exist involving
assertiveness or withdrawal (Anshel, 1996; Anshel & Weinberg, 1999; Roth &
Cohen, 1986). When faced with a challenge, an individual primarily appraises the
challenge as either threatening or non-threatening, and secondarily in terms of
whether he or she has the resources to respond to or cope with the challenge
effectively. If the individual does not believe he or she has the capacity to respond to
the challenge or feels a lack of control, he or she is most likely to turn to an emotion-
focused coping response such as wishful thinking (e.g., I wish that I could change
what is happening or how I feel), distancing (e.g., I’ll try to forget the whole thing), or
emphasizing the positive (e.g., I’ll just look for the silver lining) (Lazarus & Folkman,
1987). If the person has the resources to manage the challenge, he or she will usually
develop a problem-focused coping response such as analysis (e.g., I try to analyze the
problem in order to understand it better; I’m making a plan of action and following it).
It is theorized and empirically demonstrated that a person’s secondary appraisal then
determines coping strategies (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987). Coping strategies vary from
positive thinking to denial (see Figure 16.7, “COPE Inventory”) and are measured and
tested using a variety of instruments and scales such as the COPE inventory (Carver,
Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989).
Reference: https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/15-2-stress-and-
coping/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
344518268_INVESTIGATING_THE_COPING_STRATEGIES_OF_SINGLE_PAR
ENTS_IN_KPEDZE_TRADITIONAL_AREA_IN_THE_VOLTA_REGION_OF_G
HANA#:~:text=The%20strategies%20employed%20by%20the,%2C%20re
%2Dmarriage%20among%20others.
NOTE: ETO DIN MAKAKAHELP ABOUT COPING DI MA-COPY

According to Boss (1988), two

concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998).
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998).
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998).
Pargament (1997) describes coping
as involving possibilities and
choices; meaning that a potentially
challenging
situation can be an opportunity for
growth or devastation, depending
upon a person’s attitude and
actions.
There is a wide collection of
coping definitions and researchers
have all developed categories to
define coping
patterns. Examples of the most
common categories have been
identified and included in this
section. These are
internal, external, adaptive,
palliative, and adjustment
strategies.
Based on the work of McCubbin
and Patterson (1983), the coping
styles of families can be classified
as internal
and external strategies. The
internal strategies mainly involve
cognitive aspects of passive
appraisal (e.g.
avoidance response) and reframing
(e.g. redefining the situation)
while external coping strategies
involve more
behavioural repertoires, including
seeking social support and
spiritual support. Bailey and
Smith (2000) have
identified two main types of
coping patterns: adaptive coping
methods (e.g. information
seeking and problem
solving) and palliative coping
strategies (e.g. efforts to deny,
minimize, or escape the stressful
situation).
According to them, adaptive
coping strategies are directly
aimed at coping with the source of
challenges, whereas
palliative strategies indirectly help
reduce a person’s awareness of the
challenges.
Palliative strategies include a
person’s unconscious defence
mechanisms, which are
spontaneous reactions to
challenging situations. Individuals
often use these defence
mechanisms to help protect
him/her from excessive
threat, painful awareness, or
from becoming overwhelmed by
psychological challenges.
Defence mechanisms
may be helpful when used for a
short amount of time: however,
excessive reliance on them
prevents personal
growth.
Bailey and Smith (2000) state
that adaptive coping strategies
are found to be more effective
than palliative in
reducing stressors. McCubbin and
Patterson (1983) have documented
that parents may employ either
one of the
following types of coping
strategies when faced with
changes in the family:
adjustment or adaptive coping
strategies. Adjustment strategies
are usually short-term and are
often unable to meet the
demands the famil
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998).
Pargament (1997) describes coping
as involving possibilities and
choices; meaning that a potentially
challenging
situation can be an opportunity for
growth or devastation, depending
upon a person’s attitude and
actions.
There is a wide collection of
coping definitions and researchers
have all developed categories to
define coping
patterns. Examples of the most
common categories have been
identified and included in this
section. These are
internal, external, adaptive,
palliative, and adjustment
strategies.
Based on the work of McCubbin
and Patterson (1983), the coping
styles of families can be classified
as internal
and external strategies. The
internal strategies mainly involve
cognitive aspects of passive
appraisal (e.g.
avoidance response) and reframing
(e.g. redefining the situation)
while external coping strategies
involve more
behavioural repertoires, including
seeking social support and
spiritual support. Bailey and
Smith (2000) have
identified two main types of
coping patterns: adaptive coping
methods (e.g. information
seeking and problem
solving) and palliative coping
strategies (e.g. efforts to deny,
minimize, or escape the stressful
situation).
According to them, adaptive
coping strategies are directly
aimed at coping with the source of
challenges, whereas
palliative strategies indirectly help
reduce a person’s awareness of the
challenges.
Palliative strategies include a
person’s unconscious defence
mechanisms, which are
spontaneous reactions to
challenging situations. Individuals
often use these defence
mechanisms to help protect
him/her from excessive
threat, painful awareness, or
from becoming overwhelmed by
psychological challenges.
Defence mechanisms
may be helpful when used for a
short amount of time: however,
excessive reliance on them
prevents personal
growth.
Bailey and Smith (2000) state
that adaptive coping strategies
are found to be more effective
than palliative in
reducing stressors. McCubbin and
Patterson (1983) have documented
that parents may employ either
one of the
following types of coping
strategies when faced with
changes in the family:
adjustment or adaptive coping
strategies. Adjustment strategies
are usually short-term and are
often unable to meet the
demands the famil
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998)
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998)
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998)
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998)
According to Boss (1988), two
concepts are important in coping
with challenges that accompany
single parenting.
These are family’s coping
resources and coping strategies.
The family’s coping resources are
the individual and
collective strengths or assets the
family has available, whereas
coping strategies are what family
members actually
do, think, and feel with these
resources. Prior literature on
family coping behavior has found
that family members
do not merely react to stressful
events; rather they actively employ
coping strategies (McCubbin,
1979).
The goal of coping strategies is to
strengthen or maintain family
resources, protect the family from
the demands
of stressful encounters, reduce
the sources of stress or negative
emotions, and achieve a balance
in family
functioning (Judge 1998)
https://www.researchgate.net/publi
cation/344518268_INVESTIGATI
NG_THE_COPING_STRATEGIE
S_OF_SINGLE_PARENTS_IN_K
PEDZE_TRADITIONAL_AREA_
IN_THE_VOLTA_REGION_OF_
GHANA#:~:text=The
%20strategies%20employed
%20by%20the,%2C%20re
%2Dmarriage%20among
%20others.
https://www.researchgate.net/publi
cation/344518268_INVESTIGATI
NG_THE_COPING_STRATEGIE
S_OF_SINGLE_PARENTS_IN_K
PEDZE_TRADITIONAL_AREA_
IN_THE_VOLTA_REGION_OF_
GHANA#:~:text=The
%20strategies%20employed
%20by%20the,%2C%20re
%2Dmarriage%20among
%20others.
Bailey and Smith (2000) state
that depending upon which type
of strategy is used; one form of
coping can be
more effective than another.
They further explain that
personality characteristics of the
family members, their
financial status, educational level,
problem solving skills and
spirituality all influence a family’s
ability to cope. It
is important to investigate how
single parents cope with, and
solve their socio-economic
problems. In addition,
each family has different coping
strategies because each family is
unique and so, one form of coping
strategy can
be more effective for some
families while to others it can
be problematic. There is
therefore the need to
understand how single parent
families are currently coping and
which strategies are working for
them. Therefore,
the central problem of the study
is to investigate the coping
strategies single parents employ
to meet their
challenges.
Bailey and Smith (2000) state
that depending upon which type
of strategy is used; one form of
coping can be
more effective than another.
They further explain that
personality characteristics of the
family members, their
financial status, educational level,
problem solving skills and
spirituality all influence a family’s
ability to cope. It
is important to investigate how
single parents cope with, and
solve their socio-economic
problems. In addition,
each family has different coping
strategies because each family is
unique and so, one form of coping
strategy can
be more effective for some
families while to others it can
be problematic. There is
therefore the need to
understand how single parent
families are currently coping and
which strategies are working for
them. Therefore,
the central problem of the study
is to investigate the coping
strategies single parents employ
to meet their
challenges.
Bailey and Smith (2000) state
that depending upon which type
of strategy is used; one form of
coping can be
more effective than another.
They further explain that
personality characteristics of the
family members, their
financial status, educational level,
problem solving skills and
spirituality all influence a family’s
ability to cope. It
is important to investigate how
single parents cope with, and
solve their socio-economic
problems. In addition,
each family has different coping
strategies because each family is
unique and so, one form of coping
strategy can
be more effective for some
families while to others it can
be problematic. There is
therefore the need to
understand how single parent
families are currently coping and
which strategies are working for
them. Therefore,
the central problem of the study
is to investigate the coping
strategies single parents employ
to meet their
challenges.
Bailey and Smith (2000) state
that depending upon which type
of strategy is used; one form of
coping can be
more effective than another.
They further explain that
personality characteristics of the
family members, their
financial status, educational level,
problem solving skills and
spirituality all influence a family’s
ability to cope. It
is important to investigate how
single parents cope with, and
solve their socio-economic
problems. In addition,
each family has different coping
strategies because each family is
unique and so, one form of coping
strategy can
be more effective for some
families while to others it can
be problematic. There is
therefore the need to
understand how single parent
families are currently coping and
which strategies are working for
them. Therefore,
the central problem of the study
is to investigate the coping
strategies single parents employ
to meet their
challenges.