Studies have identified the low-income, African American, single mother as being at high riskforfamily stress and maternal depression. Both have been associated with child behavior problems. Within the family stress and adaptation framework, this study of inner-city single mothers of boys with behavior problems examined the relationships of family stress, mothers' depression, and social support to their sons' behavior and, by means of statistical analyses, located intervention points in the model for effective nursing intervention. The results indicated that study mothers reported more depression and intrafamily stress and less social support than did normative dominant culture groups. Multivariate analysis of covariance identifiedfamily stress, rather than depression, as the best intervention site for sons' behavior problems. The information can assist family nurses to formulate clinical interventions for this high-risk population.
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