The association of stressful life events with mothers' psychological distress and parenting was examined in 79 African American mothers living in 1- and 2-parent households. Findings reveal that stress in the areas of family disruption and work problems was associated with lower maternal acceptance. Family disruption was also positively associated with mothers' firm control of behavior. Family disruption and work related stress were also negatively associated with mothers' self-esteem. Health related stress was positively related to mothers' psychological distress. Mothers' self-esteem was positively associated with mothers' acceptance and negatively related to firm control. Results also reveal that mothers' self-esteem mediates the association of family disruption and work related stress on mothers' acceptance. When the effects of mothers' self-esteem were controlled, significant relationships between family disruption, work related stress, and mothers' acceptance were no longer apparent. (Contains 1 table, 5 figures, and 27 references.) (Author/SLD)