In contemporary societies, family dynamics and the influence of family environment on children's social development are among the most crucial and pertinent issues. Within this context, raising children in single-parent families warrants particular attention, calling for a deeper understanding of the underlying social and psychological mechanisms governing this process.

The overarching aim of our study conducted in November 2023 in Almaty, Kazakhstan was to investigate the behavioral characteristics of children from single-parent families and the socio-psychological factors influencing their adaptation and development. Employing a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 50 single mothers. The interview data were analyzed using QDA Miner software, enabling the prioritization of the most pressing challenges and difficulties voiced by the respondents.

This research holds significant relevance in the context of evolving social dynamics, where the prevalence of single-parent families continues to rise, underscoring the need to understand the nuances of life and child-rearing within such family structure. The novelty of our study lies in the utilization of in-depth interviews with single parents as a qualitative data collection method. This approach facilitated further exploration of the problems and challenges confronting contemporary single-parent families, while concurrently identifying the psychological and social factors impacting children's development and adaptation.

The practical significance of this study resides in the potential application of the obtained data as a foundation for developing social programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for children and single-parent families within society.