Parental divorce is considered one of the most stressful events in the lives of children. The adult perspective has dominated the discourse on divorce, and only recently has research started to consider the viewpoint of children. Research indicates that the nature of the divorce process as experienced by the child is the most important factor in post-divorce adjustment. It also remains a relatively unexplored area, with research on the manner in which children experience the divorce process being limited. The current study aimed to conduct a narrative inquiry into the experiences and perceptions of parental divorce, of a purposive sample of 9 to 10 year old children. The primary aim of the study was to highlight and honour the voice of the child in a parental divorce process. The current research was qualitative in nature and adopted a narrative paradigm. Five children were interviewed qualitatively using an unstructured interview. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Seven themes were identified. The first theme explored children’s endeavours to describe and explain parental divorce. An additional six themes were developed around the types of stories children told of the divorce process. Themes included, What is a Divorcement, Stories of Loss, Stories of Gain, Stories of Change, Stories of Stability, Healing Stories, and Complicating Stories. This study endeavoured to provide divorced parents and those working with children a greater understanding of the way in which children perceive parental divorce, and insight into the factors that facilitate children’s positive adjustment to parental divorce.

This paper reviews the remarriage pattern of widows and divorcees (both male and female) within the context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Using retrospectively reported data based on a sample of 7535 respondents whom their previous marriage had already ended in Agincourt community. Analysis was done at the three levels, descriptive, bivariate and multivariate levels. The bivariate level employed the Kaplan- Meier curve as well as Cox regression. The multivariate level employed the Cox regression analysis. The results show a slightly higher proportion for divorcees than widows (52% and 48% respectively) and that widows are less likely to remarry than divorcees. In addition, higher proportion of widows than widowers was observed, suggesting higher male mortality in this community. The analysis also reveals that widows are less likely to remarry than widowers. Furthermore, analysis of remarriage by end type of previous marriage and sex was done and the result discussed. Finally, an analysis of male and female widows whose spouses died of AIDS as opposed to those whose spouses died of non-AIDS related causes was done and result the result suggest that there is no relationship between partner dying of AIDS and remarriage. In conclusion, existing prevention campaigns usually targeted individuals with multiple sexual partners, identifying them as the link between high-risk behavior and high-risk groups, but neglected the importance of individuals whose partner died or were divorced because of AIDS who later remarry. Although, the small sample size for those whose cause of death were reported constrained the main analysis for this study. 6 However, a need for further investigation into the impact of remarriage of widows and divorced when there is sufficient data on cause of death.

No description available.

Thesis advisor: Melissa M. Kelley / Thesis advisor: Richard J. Clifford / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Adaptive processes were comparatively examined in elementary school children experiencing the postdivorce process and their peers from intact homes using a developmental conceptualization of coping with a family systems perspective. Children's psycho-social coping resources were assessed using the Self Perception Profile for Children, Coping Inventory, Children's Beliefs About Parental Divorce Scale, and Family Environment Scale. Children's global and specific coping efforts were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Schoolagers' Coping Strategies Inventory, respectively. Parental coping efforts were examined using the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Children from disrupted families were found to have diminished psycho-social coping resources (self-efficacy, self-esteem, coping styles, and social support). Between group differences were found in children's global coping efforts with the frequency and effectiveness of specific coping efforts being influenced by the time since marital disruption. Relationships between children's coping resources and efforts were also observed. In disrupted family systems, parental coping efforts characterized by escape-avoidant and social support seeking behaviors were found to be associated with children's global coping efforts.

This study was conducted to examine the problems and coping strategies of urban divorced men at the time of divorce (during the first month--Time 1) and six months later (Time 2). Both pre-determined coping strategies (formed as a result of previous research), and newly generated coping strategies for the target population were examined. Three independent variables-age, anxiety, and sex role orientation--were tested to ascertain their effect on degree of helpfulness of the coping strategies.Courthouse records were examined during a six-and-three-quarters-month time period in two counties in Indiana. The names of the men who had decrees granted during this time span were obtained. This resulted in 187 phone contacts in which the purpose of the study was explained and the research instruments briefly described. There were 164 men who volunteered to participate. They were sent a research packet consisting of a cover letter, a participant contact form, the instruments (a background questionnaire, Questionnaire II--a psychological adjustment scale, the Family Coping Inventory, the Maferr inventory of Masculine Values, and the Checklist of Problems and Concerns), and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. There were 123 men who returned the research packet at Time 1 and 84 at Time 2. Multivariate analysis and a correlated t-test were used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsSeven hypotheses were rejected at the .05 level. Significant differences were found:1. In the perceived helpfulness of pre-determined (and generated) coping strategies between older and younger men at Time 2.2. In the perceived helpfulness of pre-determined (and generated) coping strategies between higher and lower anxiety at Time 1.3. In the perceived helpfulness of pre-determined (and generated) coping strategies between higher and lower anxiety at Time 2.4. Between Time 1 and Time 2 means on the problem factors a. Between the means of Factor 1--Loneliness at Time 1 and Time 2.b. Between the means of Factor 5--Control and Competence at Time 1 and Time 2.Conclusions1. All divorced men do not fit the "self-confident swinging bachelor" stereotype. Problems related to social relationships seem to be a major cause of concern at both Time 1 and Time 2, as is loneliness. Loneliness decreases significantly, however, at Time 2.2. The results confirm the existence of stable problem factors over time.3. It appears that there are relatively stable coping strategies found across time and populations. Those found most often are concerned with: Maintaining Family Stability Establishing Independence Dating and Socializing with Friends Leisure ActivitiesContact with RelataivesDivorce Related ActivitiesSeeking Understanding Through Personal and Professional Relationships Expressing Self Community Involvement4. It would be beneficial to adopt a single coping strategy framework and impose this structure on subjects in future research studies rather than generate new sets of strategies. Degrees of helpfulness could be ascertained while providing a consistent foundation for comparison.5. Anxiety level seems to be the most important independent variable in this study in perceived degree of helpfulness. Age also plays a role.

South African society may have erased the stigma that once accompanied divorce, but its massive effects cannot be ignored. Hence. the purpose of this research was to determine the causes, nature and impact of divorce on children. From the literature, it became evident that social scientists tracked successive generations of South African children whose parents have ended their marriages. Literature further indicates that divorce is a traumatic experience, characterized by emotions, relief and excitement, shame that you had failed in your marriage, guilt that your children would not have the ideal childhood you had envisaged and fury at your spouse. Its effects are obvious in family life, educational attainment, job stability, income potential, physical and emotional health, drug use, and crime (Search 1983: 11 ). Literature further revealed that each year, over one million South African children suffer as their parents divorce. Moreover, half of all children born in wedlock see their parents divorce before reaching their nineteenth birthday (Search, 1983: 11 ). This fact alone should give policymakers and those whose careers focus on children reason to develop policies that will protect children from the devastating effects of divorce. Divorce has pervasive ill effects on children and the five major institutions of society: the family, church, school, marketplace, and government itself. If the family is the building block of society, then marriage is the foundation. This foundation however, is growing weaker with fewer adults entering into marriage, more adults leaving it in divorce, and more and more adults avoiding it altogether for single parenthood or cohabitation (Mitchell 1979:21 ). Divorce occurs in a context that is usually characterized by chronic parental conflict, pre-occupied parents who may be less sensitive to their child's needs, a reduced standard of living, post separation. chronic stress for the child and parents (Hodges, 1991 :8 ). The following are some major findings revealed in this study: absent parents or non-custodial parents are never in contact with their children and hence continuously fail to maintain their children. Extra marital relations, alcohol abuse, and physical abuse are main causes of divorce. Divorce has long term effects on children. These sometimes they carry along to adulthood. Not all marriages fail for the same reason, nor is there usually one reason for the breakdown of a particular marriage. Nevertheless, some reasons are more heard than others, such as, poor communication, financial problems, a lack of commitment to the marriage, a dramatic change in priorities and infidelity. All in all, children are at the receiving end. They are the victims of divorce. / M.A. (SW) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

This study evaluates the effects of an eight week, school-based, preventive intervention programme on the adjustment of children to divorce. Thirty-three later latency stage children (9 to 12 year olds) were evaluated before and after intervention on the Child Behavior Check List by parents (Achenbach & Edelbrock, 1983) and teachers (Edelbrock & Achenbach, 1984) for behaviour problems. Children's self reports on their problematic beliefs about divorce (Kurdek and Berg, 1987), self-perceived competence (Harter, 1985), and trait anxiety levels (Reynolds & Richmond, 1985) were assessed. Subsequent to the intervention children had significantly fewer misconceptions about divorce, had increased perceived social acceptance, and had decreased anxiety levels. Behavioral reports obtained from parents and teachers failed to support the apparent gains.