Many divorcing persons turn to treatment programs hoping for assistance in managing the process of divorce. Treatment programs include individual as well as group process models. One of the goals of most group process programs is to generate peer support which in turn is hoped to facilitate the process of divorce adjustment. Evaluations of such programs are few and limited. This study is an evaluation of a group process divorce adjustment intervention entitled, Divorce Recovery Workshop. This intervention includes education and support components. Two different methods of workshop delivery are compared and analyzed to determine the influence of support on the process of divorce adjustment. One method includes a small group component, the other does not. This workshop, offered during 1992/3, drew participants from the greater Salem, Oregon area who had recently divorced. This study examines four areas of divorce adjustment, comparing the two methods of workshop delivery, as well as participant experiences of support. These four included depression, degree of control, self-esteem, and persistence of attachment. Participants were administered pre-workshop and post-workshop questionnaires. Standardized measures included the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Radloff, 1977), the Rosenberg Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) for assessing self-esteem, and the Acceptance of Marital Termination Scale (Thompson and Spanier, 1983). Nonstandardized measures included the Degree of Control After Divorce Scale, the Support List adapted from a social support measure (Bengtson and Mangen, 1988), the Support Scale adapted from a medical intervention peer support measure (Pratt, 1984), and a brief Satisfaction with Support Scale. This evaluation revealed positive outcomes for participants in the four areas of divorce adjustment regardless of method of program delivery. Participants also showed increased experiences of support attributable to the intervention. However, additional research is needed to establish the relationship between support and divorce adjustment. The lack of a control group should lead to caution to generalizing these results. / Graduation date: 1994

M.A. (Social Science) / The goals of this study were formulated in response to the need for a skills oriented programme to assist individuals to cope with divorce. The aim of this study was to develop a coping with divorce programme, to implement the programme on a trial basis, and to evaluate the programme. The study was undertaken with in the framework of the developmental research and utilization model. The research design integrated exploratory, descriptive and evaluative methods. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were applied. The phenomena of divorce with specific reference to the effects of divorce and aspects central to the phenomena of coping with divorce were identified and discussed. Based on this analysis of divorce, a "Coping with divorce" programme was designed and developed. The Coping with divorce (CWO) programme was implemented and evaluated on a trial basis. The most important findings that were established in this study was that certain aspects of respondents social functioning indicated a statistical significant difference in the pre- and post-test. Furthermore respondents self-esteem, and perception of knowledge and skills regarding coping with divorce indicated a statistical significant difference in the pre- and post-test. The findings of this trial Investigation cannot be generalised and It is recommended that the programme be subjected to more extensive evaluation.

D.Litt. et Phil. (Social Work) / The Commission of Enquiry in the Structure and Function of the Courts (1983) and subsequent legislation Family Court Act (Act No. 62 of 1985), Divorce Amendment Act (Act 63 of"1985) and the Mediation Divorce Proceedings Act (Act 63 of 1986) recommended and paved the way for a family court with attendant social services to be integrated with aspects of marriage dissolution in South Africa. These proposals and legislation proved both to be innovative and contentious and have occasioned much debate, and stimulated and motivated by the above, t;,e candidate in this dissertation undertakes I an examination of the parameters of the social services envisaged as regards divorce services, with particular reference to the construct of mediation, its significance, technology and feasibility. The research is formulated and structured around the research goals and objectives of acquiring information of an academic as well as a practice nature, with a view to increasing the knowledge base of such service ideology, in order to more effectively evaluate the need for the rendering of such service. The research questions formulated to-provide' both the information and the resultant answers are those that relate to the concept of mediation and the practice thereof; the range and type of social services in a divorce court service; the working of family law systems in other parts of the world and their comparison to proposals for South Africa; the integration of the social services within a court system and the professional equipment of the staff. needed to perform such services. In order to acquire the information to address the issues, the methodology embarked on by the candidate involved the undertaking of a literature study of the field of mediation and family/law courts; correspondence with social services and judico/legal bodies in the United States of America, England, Canada, Australia, New...

Text in Afrikaans / Globally divorce is an increasing phenomenon. If not handled correctly it may be significantly destructive for the people involved. The new Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005 regards the best interests of the child paramount in all matters concerning the care, protection and well-being of a child. It underpins the importance of the full, or specific parental responsibilities of parents, the importance of a conciliatory and non-confrontational approach to the settlement of child-centred disputes. It also mandates that the child has the right to participate in an appropriate way in any matter concerning that child and that his views must be given due consideration. Further Act 38 of 2005, provides for parenting plans to be agreed upon determining the exercise of their respective responsibilities and rights. The goal of this research was to explore, develop and implement a process of family mediation with reference to Act 38 of 2005. Five families affected by divorce and their children were selected as case studies for qualitative research. Applied research was done within the context of intervention research and the first four phases of Rothman and Thomas’ Intervention Research model was used. Problems caused by divorce were identified and the goal was to address the best interests of the child by improving the co-parenting relationship, parent-child relationships and the quality of parenting. Information gathering and synthesis took place by using existing information sources, studying natural examples and identifying functional elements of successful models.An observational system was designed. It included the natural observing of the five case studies, specific procedural elements and intervention. The design criteria were applied to the preliminary intervention concept. / Social Work / D.Diac. (Spelterapie-Rigting)

Text in Afrikaans / Globally divorce is an increasing phenomenon. If not handled correctly it may be significantly destructive for the people involved. The new Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005 regards the best interests of the child paramount in all matters concerning the care, protection and well-being of a child. It underpins the importance of the full, or specific parental responsibilities of parents, the importance of a conciliatory and non-confrontational approach to the settlement of child-centred disputes. It also mandates that the child has the right to participate in an appropriate way in any matter concerning that child and that his views must be given due consideration. Further Act 38 of 2005, provides for parenting plans to be agreed upon determining the exercise of their respective responsibilities and rights. The goal of this research was to explore, develop and implement a process of family mediation with reference to Act 38 of 2005. Five families affected by divorce and their children were selected as case studies for qualitative research. Applied research was done within the context of intervention research and the first four phases of Rothman and Thomas’ Intervention Research model was used. Problems caused by divorce were identified and the goal was to address the best interests of the child by improving the co-parenting relationship, parent-child relationships and the quality of parenting. Information gathering and synthesis took place by using existing information sources, studying natural examples and identifying functional elements of successful models.An observational system was designed. It included the natural observing of the five case studies, specific procedural elements and intervention. The design criteria were applied to the preliminary intervention concept. / Social Work / D.Diac. (Spelterapie-Rigting)

The drastic readjustments brought on by the ending of a love relationship make divorce one of the most stressful events that divorced persons may face. Divorced persons often experience the negative consequences of divorce including, amongst others, an increased level of unhappiness, greater physical and psychological distress, less support systems, lower life satisfaction, elevated risk of suicide, asocial behavioural problems, and a decline in the standard of living. Therefore, expounding on the nature of social work services to divorced persons and determining divorced persons’ needs with regard to social work services were of critical importance in order to develop guidelines that would inform social work practice and social welfare policies. A qualitative research approach was employed, guided by an explorative, descriptive, and contextual research design. A sample of 20 participants, comprising10 divorced persons (males and females) from different ethnic groups and 10 social workers employed at different organisations (including governmental, non- governmental and private practice) in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, was drawn through purposive and snowball sampling. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and analysed following Tesch’s eight steps (in Creswell 2009:186) framework. Guba’s model (Krefting 1991:215-222) was applied for data verification. Amongst others, the study found that divorced persons experience loneliness, stigma, financial hardships, lack of support, loss of self-esteem and companionship, loss of trust in the opposite sex, anger, regret, suicidal thoughts, rejection, challenges related to children, and post-divorce adjustments. Most of the divorced persons did not know about the social work services available to them. There are social workers employed at different organisations who provide mediation and parenting plan services to divorced persons, but most of them do not deal with cases related to divorced persons. Although there are social workers who believe that the counselling services provided to divorced persons are helpful, most of them were not entirely satisfied and feel that they could do more by involving group work and community work methods of social work practice. Based on the research findings, recommendations pertaining to social work practice, social work training and education, social welfare policy, and further research were put forward. / Social Work / PhD. (Social Work)

Divorce has become so prevalent in our present day society, that it is regarded as one of the most sressful and complex mental health crises facing children today. As parents are often under tremendous stress during the time of divorce, they may be incapable of provding the support and guidance children need. The purpose of this study is to present a group counselling intervention programme to assist children of divorce and to create a supportive group atmosphere in which children can share divorce-related feelings, clarify common misconceptions and reduce feelings of isolation. Findings of this study indicate that the acquisition of problem-solving communication and anger control skills help to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, improve the self-concept and ultimately promote post-divorce adjustment. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Divorce has become so prevalent in our present day society, that it is regarded as one of the most sressful and complex mental health crises facing children today. As parents are often under tremendous stress during the time of divorce, they may be incapable of provding the support and guidance children need. The purpose of this study is to present a group counselling intervention programme to assist children of divorce and to create a supportive group atmosphere in which children can share divorce-related feelings, clarify common misconceptions and reduce feelings of isolation. Findings of this study indicate that the acquisition of problem-solving communication and anger control skills help to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, improve the self-concept and ultimately promote post-divorce adjustment. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)