In this study, we aim to discover how Chinese adults’ perceive the influence of their parents’ divorce on their academic performance. A total number of 22 Chinese adult participants took part in the individual semi-structured interviews, and answers were analyzed by using content analysis. The results of the study show a partial consistence with previous research that there might be short-term negative influence of parents’ divorce on their children’s’ academic performance. Yet these participants recounted that they were able to independently cope with the stressful situations related to their parents’ divorce and reduce, or even remove, the negative influence on their academic studies in the long term. Other participants who regarded themselves as highly social and communicative and/or who received social support did not perceive any negative influence. We show that external factors, such as how parents handle the divorce and support from other family members, teachers and peers, might work together with participants’ internal factors to result in reducing negative influences on academic performance and achievements.

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...

The purpose of the study was to explore the statistical relationships among selected variables related to gay divorced fathers in order to develop a better understanding of their gender role conflict and help-seeking behaviors. Participants (N=105) self-identified as Caucasian (91%), resided in the United States (90%), holding a bachelor's degree or higher (80%), and annual incomes of less than $80,000 (52%). The men ranged in age from 29 to 78 (M= 54), married from 1 to 38 years (M= 18), and divorced from 5 months to just under 37 years (M= 10). Participants completed an on-line questionnaire that included (a) Gender Role Conflict Scale, (b) Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale, (c) Intentions to Seeking Counseling Inventory, (d) Hopkins Symptom Checklist, (e) two open-ended prompts, and (f) demographic questions. Participants who had received mental health services in the past were asked to report on what prompted them to seek services and the helpfulness of those services. Analysis of Pearson r was used to answer each of the research questions related to (a) GRC and psychological distress (positive correlation); (b) GRC and attitudes and intentions towards seeking psychological help (negative correlation); and (c) years married and psychological distress (negative correlation). Significance was not identified between time since divorce and any other variable. Over 80% of the participants had used mental health services with the three main reasons being coming-out, depression, and sexual identity. The most beneficial resources they had available to them and/or they would recommend to others were support groups, counseling/therapy, and general support. Findings are limited by a lack of cultural and ethnic diversity among the sample. Implications include using group counseling methods and/or a coaching model for service delivery. An informed integrated approach that focuses on systems, role development, and strategic thinking is recommended. Interventions should include depression and suicide assessments, brief solution focused methods, narrative work, social networking, and community resource guides. Future research should seek to determine between group differences with regards to the impact GRC has on one's ability to adjust to change, establish and maintain relationships, and willingness to seek help. / Ph. D.

No description available.

This study was designed to assess the difference in litigation between two courts: one mandating For Kids' Sake, a psycho-educational seminar for divorcing parents, and the other not so mandating. The level of difficulty of children's adjustment to divorce has been positively correlated with parental hostility. More hostile parents would have more contested cases, interim motions, and relitigations. This research compared final dispositions, interim motions, and relitigation between parents in two courts in Collin County, Texas. The treatment group was from the 219th District Court which mandated all divorcing parents with minor children to attend the For Kids' Sake Seminar and the control group was from the 199th District Court which did not so mandate. Archival data was collected from a computer generated list for the Total group data to assess final dispositions and directly from District Clerk files for the In-Depth group data to assess interim motions and relitigation. The Total group was comprised of 679 research subjects with 330 cases in the treatment group and 349 cases in the control group. The In-Depth group consisted of 182 cases from both courts with 84 cases in the treatment group and 98 cases in the control group. Chi square analysis of the total group revealed significantly more parents in the treatment group who non suited the divorce suit and remained married (p. < .05), a significantly lower number of cases in the treatment group with interim motions (p. < .10), and a significantly lower amount of relitigation in the treatment group (p. < .05). The results showed that the court that mandated For Kids' Sake evidenced a reduction in subsequent litigation which not only benefits the legal system but also hopefully reflects lower parental hostility and higher parental cooperation, thereby benefiting the children of divorce.

Submitted if fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Sociology at the University of Zululand, 2003. / The sole purpose of this research is to determine the effects of divorce in a South African Community with specific reference to Esikhawini Area in Kwazulu-Natal. The effect that divorce has on both parents and children is that, it is fearful and insecure with loyalty conflicts. In South Africa however the high divorce rate has just escalated greatly and this has an effect on government funds because the government is supposed to control the family structure and a fixed budget for children support services for the abandoned children or unemployed mothers. Furthermore there is a great need for counselling services for children at Esikhawini since, there are problems of juvenile delinquency, deviant behavior and school drop outs. Our country's divorce rate is an indication of the quality of our family life. Social workers and psychologists provide the divorce court with the back ground information or reports especially where there are children involved. Children of divorced parents show an increase in dependancy over time and exhibited less sustained play then children of intact families. Children need emotional, physical, moral and financial support which are usually provided by the different organizations for example church, helpful community members and welfare agencies from the government. The state has an obligation to support divorced parents and abandoned children by introducing the divorce therapy programmes in order to reduce hatred, anger and depression to those who are affected. Welfare agencies and day care centers are available in Esikhawini Department of Welfare and pension. The researcher has consulted the records at Ongoye Magistrate's Institutions such as those of social workers, maintenance court and find out that there is a huge number of divorce cases reported to them by the victims of divorce. The study explores and describes the effects of divorce with reference to Esikhawini area of Empangeni. It also explores if children are informed about the pending divorce as well as arrangements made concerning the visits by parents who loose the custody of the children. Counselling should not be omitted per - se in due to the fact that it plays a significant role in the building up of the individuals self esteem or helplessness. The population under study is caught between the traditional and the modem standard of living because of social changes. The first chapter, which is mainly introductory serves as an eye-opener for the thesis. The researcher succinctly shows in that chapter, that the effects of divorce might affect the child's academic performance and so many other aspects of life. The researcher continues to state what motivated him to carry out the study. A statement of the problem, the historical background of the place under study, the aims and objectives of the stud}', die hypothesis. the methodology are outlined. Chapter two presents the scholarship review of the study. Chapter three focuses on the methods that was used to obtain results from the respondents. In the same manner, chapter four focuses on the interpretation of data obtained after the respondents had answered the questionnaires. Chapter five gives the recommendations and also a brief conclusion that sums up the argument of the thesis. This study has explained and described divorce as an act which affects the lower and higher socio-economic residents of Esikhawini. The study also came up with the assumption that divorce occurs more to couples staying with the extended family than to couples staying alone and this assumption was tested and confirmed by the study. The conclusion also sums up the findings of the study that this population lives the modern style of life.

Our study is concerned with the effects of filing for divorce on the behavior of children. We are interested in the adjustment of the child to the changes which occur during separation and divorce, and we maintain the attitude that the lives of children are affected in some way when a marriage or family unit dissolves. A generally accepted belief is that divorce produces negative consequences in the lives of children as shown in their behavior. However, recently a number of studies have suggested that divorce need not be a negative experience, at least to the degree most people feel it is. Factors that influence the effects on children include: the intensity of the conflict between the divorcing partners; the degree to which parents demonstrate concern for the children and help them prepare for the separation; the child’s attachment to the custodial parent; and the level of maturity and general personality characteristics of the child. The primary goal of the study presented here is to determine the extent to which negative behavior changes in children are visible immediately following a divorce. Additionally we wish to describe those changes and determine their frequency. Finally, we wish to relate such changes to certain to certain social variables including economic status and age and sex of the children.

The purpose of this project was to obtain a preliminary description, through study of the legal files, of that group of persons who appear before the Court of Domestic Relations for a reconsideration of the custody decision made initially, at the time of divorce. A sample of 92 cases heard in Mu1tnomah County in 1965 was obtained. A survey of the literature revealed that much of what has been written on the subject of divorce and custody is primarily from a statistical or legalistic standpoint and very little bears directly on the granting or obtaining of custody or the problems encountered by the custodial or non-custodial parents and the children. A reading schedule was developed for the purpose of recording the information in the legal files maintained by the court. The characteristics of the sample group were tallied in an effort to obtain a statistical profile of that group requiring additional court appearances to settle the matter of custody. A number of hypotheses were developed and tested by means of Chi Square. Though this study was limited by the fact that no control group was used and no personal interviews were obtained, it clearly indicates the need for additional research in the area of divorce and custody and suggestions are made for future projects.

No description available.