This exploratory study was written with the intent to inform educators of the impact that divorce may have on children, of possible factors contributing to the resiliency in children of divorce, and of possible intervention efforts on the part of educators. An extensive literature review presented various perspectives from researchers, authors, and theorists. Developmental theorists such as Erickson were paralleled with empirical evidence collected by researchers such as Wallerstein. Studies including a meta-analysis by Amato (2001) were presented in discussions of the possible outcomes for children of divorce. Long-term outcomes were considered from the perspective of a sociologist and a journalist. Positive parenting skills were offered by experts such as Brooks (2005). A qualitative study of the reflective experiences of adult children of divorced parents was also initiated to determine the accuracy of the literature review and to encourage further research in this area. This thesis involved a self-administered survey of eleven adult children of divorce, while analysis of the survey data utilized a modified form of Grounded Theory. <p>Findings from the survey and the literature review demonstrated the need for relevant educational programs and professional development of educators. It also revealed that programming for parents should include significant elements of motivational and transfer-of-learning techniques, and that programs promoting positive reflective thought are needed for adults emerging from childhood divorce experiences. <p>The descriptions of emotions and behaviours disclosed by the participants of the survey were compelling and direct, offering convincing insight into the impact of parental divorce. Participants indicated that parents, and other significant individuals, did not understand what they were feeling. Most participants could recall individuals or groups that did intervene positively in their lives; one mention was made of teacher concern about possible depression. The participants offered insight into positive and negative parental behaviours, and their reflective discussions suggested that one significant outcome of parental divorce was the impact it had on the parent/child relationship, as well as the suggestion that a difficult transition into adult relationships was often a result of this experience. Although significant research has been accomplished on the short-term impact on child development, investigation into the long-term outcomes of parental divorce has received minimal attention, possibly making it difficult for educators to have concrete data to draw upon. <p>The research strongly suggested that there may be a population of individuals that could benefit from educational programs that focus upon their experience as children of divorce. It is my conclusion that an appropriate educational context of constructive reflection and support can contribute positively to the well-being and quality of life for children of divorce.

This thesis has examined what long-term psychological and neurological effects that are apparent in children and adults who have experienced parental divorce. It was predicted that significantly more children and adult children from divorced families would have increased symptoms of mental disorders than children and adult children from married homes e.g., anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. It was further predicted that parental divorce would negatively affect the neurological system in the offspring. The correlation between children of divorce and negative neurological effects was not found to be true. However, adult children of divorce have significantly lower baseline cortisol levels compared to adult children of marriage. Dysregulated cortisol levels are highly associated with the development of e.g., anxiety, depression, and brain damage. Parental divorce did not only influence how secretion of the hormone cortisol is regulated within adult children of divorce, but how both children and adult children of divorce psychologically adapt postdivorce. Children of divorce have for instance lower general well-being, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem, and feel more stress than children of marriage. Adult children of divorce are more likely to experience marital discord, getting divorced themselves, anxiety and depression, lower academic performance, and substance abuse, etc. The result of the thesis suggests that children and adult children from divorced families are negatively affected, both psychologically and neurologically, regardless of age. Parental divorce and supplementary effects make it more likely for children and adult children to experience more symptoms of mental disorders.

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the experiences of resilience following parental divorce for university freshmen. Five participants were interviewed using a multiple case study methodology and Richardson’s (2002) resilience model as the theoretical framework. It examined how the three needs of Self-Determination theory (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) and the three categories of protective factors (individual, family, and community) contributed to resilience. Data were collected through demographic surveys, divorce artwork, resilience artwork, and interview transcriptions. General themes, typological self-determination need themes, and typological protective factor themes were developed for each individual and across cases. The findings suggested that autonomy needs and individual protective factors were the same, competence needs and most community factors were the same, and relatedness needs and family protective factors, along with the community protective factor of friends, were same. Therefore, this study linked the empirical support of protective factor research to the tenet of self-determination theory that stated that by facilitating the three self-determination needs, optimal positive psychological, developmental and behavioral outcomes occur (Deci & Ryan, 2008). Findings also revealed a) the importance of cognitive coping strategies, b) the benefit of helping others, c) the significance of the relatedness need, and d) the value of multiple types of relationships. Implications for counselors and recommendations for future research on resilience in children of divorce were provided.

Separationer har blivit alltmer vanligt i dagens samhälle i Sverige. Idag separerar drygthälften av alla par, vilket kan medföra flera olika typer av konsekvenser för barnen i familjen.Vad tidigare forskning har funnit är att barnens mentala hälsa påverkas negativt men ocksåvissa attitydförändringar till romantiska relationer överlag. Syftet med denna studie var attundersöka om dessa barns framtida romantiska relationer är något som påverkades i och meden föräldraseparation. Även om ålder vid separationen kunde påverka relationerna. Det varnittiofyra studenter vid ett medelstort universitet i Sverige som slumpmässigt valdes ut för attundersökas genom en enkätundersökning. Romantiska relationer definierades genom fyraolika index: trygg; otrygg-undvikande; otrygg-ambivalent; otrygg-desorganiserad. Resultatetvisade att vilken ålder man var vid separationen inte hade någon påverkan på deras framtidaromantiska relationer. Däremot kunde en föräldraseparation till viss del påverka studentersromantiska relationer. Det framkom att en föräldraseparation förutsåg en otryggdesorganiseradanknytning. Däremot sågs ingen signifikant skillnad för resterande tre index. Som slutsats är det inte separationen i sig som påverkar studenternas framtida romantiskarelationer. / Separations have become more common in the society of Sweden. Today, about half of the couples separates, which can cause several types of consequences for the children in the family. What previous research has found is that children’s mental health was adversely affected by a separation. Changes in children’s attitudes towards romantic relationships was discovered as well. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether these children’s future romantic relationship are affected by parental separation. How old the children were by the separations were also included in the study. Ninety-four students at a medium-sized university in Sweden were randomly selected to be examined through a survey. Romantic relationship was defined by four different categories: secure; fearful; preoccupied; dismissed. Results showed that how old children were at the parental separation did not affect their future romantic relationships. However, a parental separation could partly affect a student’s romantic relationship. It was found that a parental separation predicted higher levels in the dismissed category. On the contrary, there were no significant differences for the remaining three categories. In conclusion, it is not the separation itself that affects students’ future romantic relationships.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / The aim of the research study was to examine the marital attitudes of students from divorced, intact and single parent families. Most of these students were in the intimacy versus isolation developmental phase. During this phase young adults seek to form an intimate relationship with another person, but may fear intimacy or may not want to give up their independence and may experience loneliness and isolation instead. It was thus important to conduct the study since some of the students were at a developmental stage in which they might have been dealing with intimate relationship issues. Given the focus of international studies on the marital attitudes of students from intact and divorced families, it was considered important to include, in the comparison, students from single parent families. A survey research design was used as a broad methodological framework and Bowen's family systems theory was used as a theoretical framework. A convenient sampling method was used to select a sample of 209 participants from the Community and Health Science Faculty. A Marital Attitude Scale and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was analyzed by means of basic descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test, T-Test and Mann Whitney U-Test. Results showed that students&rsquo; parental marital status (married, divorced, single) had no influence on their attitudes towards marriage. Generally, the students showed positive attitudes towardsmarriage. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference among different racial groups. The results suggest that except for race, there was no statistically significant difference on the marital attitudes when compared on such variables as gender, religion and age. Although the marital attitudes of participants were generally positive among the different racial groups, participants from the Black community had less positive marital attitudes when compared with their Coloured, Indian and White counterparts. Participants from the Coloured community also had less positive marital attitudes when compared to their counterparts from the Indian and White communities. The results of this study show that participants had relative positive attitudes towards marriage and that these attitudes did not differ according to parental status. / South Africa

Syftetmed denna studie äratt studerade subjektiva tankarna kring äktenskap,skilsmässasamt påverkningsgraden av föräldrarnas skilsmässa hos vuxna skilsmässobarn. Det utfördes sex kvalitativa intervjuer med fyra kvinnor och tremän,i åldrarna 18-26 somallavar bosatta i Stockholm. Studien visadeatt vuxna skilsmässobarn har en relativ positiv inställningtill äktenskap men att de har en rädsla för att deras framtida äktenskap skall resulterasmedskilsmässa likföräldrarnasäktenskap.Den främsta orsaken till föräldrarnas skilsmässa berodde på att pappanantigenvar otrogen eller ansvarslös, dettahar påverkat skilsmässobarnens relation till pappan. Efter skilsmässan har relationen mellan vuxna skilsmässobarnenoch den ena föräldern blivit allt starkare då skilsmässobarnet skapar en nära relation till föräldern för att ersätta och fylla den lucka som saknas i form av avsaknad av den andra föräldern. Föräldrarnas skilsmässa har påverkat vuxna skilsmässobarnen genom att de själva sätter krav på sina egna framtida relationer och partners.En summering av studien påvisar att majoriteten av respondenterna upplever att de har fått en starkare relation till ena förälderns och inte den andra. Vilket beror på den andra förälderninte längre har en viktig roll i familjen så som tidigare och kan därmed inte påverka relationerna som innan.

Divorce creates significant stress that can have an impact on parent-child relationship satisfaction. Past researchers have indicated that in times of high stress, parents may not be available for their children due to their personal issues. Attachment theory demonstrates the importance of the parent-child bond for the child as he or she matures, so this bond needs to be protected. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to examine the predictive relationship between parental stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Index, 4th Edition, Short Form (PSI-4-SF) and the parent-child relationship satisfaction as measured by the Parent-Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) following a separation or divorce. A sample of 17 recently separated or divorced, custodial mothers who had at least one child between the ages 5-13 years were recruited through local schools and the Walden Participant Pool. They completed the PSI-4-SF, the PCRI, and a demographics questionnaire. A correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship between parental stress and the level of parent-child relationship satisfaction, which was found to possess a significant negative relationship. Multiple regression analyses were then conducted, but neither child gender or child age influenced this relationship between parental stress and parent-child relationship satisfaction. However, mothers did report higher parent-child relationship satisfaction when their child was male. This study has a small sample size, so results do need to be approached with caution. This knowledge of which families may be most at risk for increased stress may promote positive social change by providing professionals insight into which families may be most in need to learn stress control and management to help protect the parent-child relationship.

No description available.

This Diploma Thesis focuses on the divorce of matrimony and its influence on children. It is attempting to provide a compact basic overview of how difficult time in life it can be. What are the needs and fears of children whose family is breaking apart. The aim of the Thesis is to map out the needs of the children in time of divorce and find out what kind of influence it had on them when they were growing up. The theoretical part consists of specialised literature that will be of help to us in understanding the divorce issues specifically in the area of the children's needs and fears during the uneasy life situations as a divorce. Empirical part is concerned with phenomenological approach. With the help of halfstructured interview with adults whose parents got a divorce during their pubescence and adolescence. Interview which maped out the needs according to Maslow's hieararchy of needs. The intention is to point out the fulfilling and unfulfilling needs of children at the times of their parent's divorce. Next there are recommendations, that should not be forgotten when it comes to a divorce, for parents from the respondents. Key words Divorce, children and divorce, family, needs and fears of children, pubescence, adolescence

La famiglia nell'attualità è attraversata da cambiamenti che stanno trasformando le fondamenta della identità personale, gli assiomi della vita quotidiana. Il caso della famiglia che ha attraversato una rottura ed è contrassegnata da separazione e divorzio, solleva un gran numero di questioni umane e sociali e origina diverse transizioni, che sono state al centro dell'approfondimento oggetto di questa tesi dottorale, condotto su un campione di giovani adulti italiani. Essa mostra, nella fattispecie attraverso le peculiari caratteristiche della ricerca qualitativa, i tratti salienti di specifici metodi visuali, denominati "Family map" e "Life line". Essi hanno contribuito a definire la struttura, il posizionamento relazionale dei membri della famiglia, le stesse relazioni tra essi, nonchè di concettualizzare chi "appartiene" a una famiglia che ha attraversato un cambiamento, una transizione, che porta dunque con sè un corredo di eventi correlati. L'intervistato ha partecipato di volta in volta secondo una modalità (inter)attiva e ha descritto graficamente all'interno delle quattro specifiche sezioni ed i cerchi concentrici della mappa e poi lungo la linea, quali relazioni e fatti sono più o meno importanti. L'intervistatore ha potuto rivolgere domande volte ad acquisire informazioni su alcuni processi di cambiamento e la prospettiva peculiare di tale cambiamento, così come percepita da ciascun attore, ad esempio in riferimento ad eventi passati o presenti. Attraverso lo specifico snodarsi grafico dei supporti - allo sesso tempo fornendo un inquadramento consistente di dati- questo lavoro ha gettato luce su cosa le relazioni familiari, gli eventi e le rappresentazioni configurano nella percezione della persona coinvolta. La scommessa posta attraverso l'uso di questi metodi visuali è quella di continuare a concepire gli individui in termini di approccio relazionale, attraverso l'interdipendenza con il sè, l'altro da sè e il mondo, lungo tutto il corso della propria esistenza. Un grande contributo di questo strumento sui generis è che ha aperto le porte a numerose altre domande che stimolano la ricerca di risposte e la stessa futura ricerca riguardante i figli di separati. / Many changes are affecting the family today, transforming the foundations of self-identity, which are the core models for everyday personal life. The situation of family disruption, such as separation and divorce, raises either a number of human and social issues, and transitions which deserved to be better understood in this PhD thesis, being carried out on a sample of young Italian adults. It shows in the form of qualitative research the main features of specific visual methods, the Family map and Life line. They contributed to define the structure, the positions of family members, the relationships between them and conceptualize who belongs to a family that has changed, with crucial events related. The interviewee has been actively identifying and describing graphically (within the four sections and the concentric circles of the map and along the line) which relations and facts are more or less relevant. The interviewer could ask questions in order to get some processes of change and the actors’ own perception of such change, e.g. with reference to current state or past events. Along a specific visual development of the graphs -while providing a helpful framework- this research throwed some light on what family relationships, events and representations are on the perception of the person involved. The challenge posed for this visual methods is to continue to conceive of individuals in terms of relational approach, through the interdependence with self, others, and the world during the course of life. A great contribution of this tool sui generis is that it opened the door to numerous additional questions concerning children of divorce, that need answers and further research.