Sometimes, mothers decide to find a neighborhood that can adapt to their lifestyle and financial situation. Children living with single parents are exposed to more stressful experiences and circumstances than children living with parents who are still married. Although researchers define stress somewhat differently, most assume that it occurs when external demands exceed individuals' coping resources. This results in feelings of emotional distress, reduced ability to function in school, work, and family, and increased physiological indicators of arousal. Many single parents, however, struggle to function effectively as parents. Compared to lifelong married parents, they are less emotionally supportive of their children, have fewer rules, use harsher discipline, are more inconsistent in enforcing discipline, provide less supervision, and engage in more conflict with their children. children.