This study aimed to: (a) characterize a sample of mothers and children in separated families with regard to their social skills; (b) investigate the relation between mothers' social skills and children's behavior; and (c) compare clinical and non-clinical sample as to the behavioral repertory. Forty three mothers of children of both sexes, aged between four and six years participated in the study. Mothers answered a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, an Interview about Parental Educational Social Skills, the Child Behavior Checklist - CBCL, a Questionnaire of Social Skills Responses, and Rutter's A2 Scale. For data analysis, Spearman and Mann-Whitney tests were used. Results showed that mothers' educational social skills were related to social skills of children, while negative practices were associated with behavioral problems. We discuss how maternal social skills may influence children's behavior in separated families.
Parental educational social skills; Marriage separation; Child behavior
