Hess and Camara (1979) have shown that it is post-divorce family functioning, rather than family structure, that is most important in influencing the effects of divorce on children. A child's adjustment to divorce should be viewed as a developmental process rather than as a single event. Consequently, it is important to focus on the ways in which the psychological structure and family process variables in the single-parent family help to mediate the effects of divorce on the child. To explore this issue, research which specifically investigated the post-divorce custodial parent-child relationship was reviewed. Literature covering the past 25 years revealed that variables which have been shown to influence the effects of divorce on children include: (1) parent and child demographics; (2) personal characteristics of the parent, including stress level, distress, emotional availability, values, and competence/assertiveness; (3) the relationship between the parent and the child; and (4) the use of support networks. Important aspects of the parent-child relationship include the parent's satisfaction with the relationship, the child's satisfaction, the amount of parent-child contact, parental discipline, parental explanation of the divorce, and parental expectations of the child. This information could be useful for single parents in helping their children adjust to divorce. (NB)