This study assessed the relationship and rivalry differences among siblings of intact families versus divorced families. It involved children, young adults, and adults from a Midwestern, moderately sized community. These participants answered two brief questionnaires requesting information on their age, sex, ethnicity, family structure, and perceived sibling relationships. The researcher found that there were no overall differences between children of married parents versus divorced parents except concerning the level of antagonism. Further, it was found that there were differing levels of dominance, nurturance, and quarrels in sibling relationships depending on the level of contact with step or half siblings and the child's perceptions of the parents' current relationship with each other. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The purpose of this research study was to determine what effect, if any, the role of parental divorce would have on African Americans' ability to form satisfying adult romantic relationships and on their socioeconomic status. The groups were divided into those who had experienced parental divorce prior to age thirteen (adult children of divorce) and those whose parents were still married when the respondent was thirteen (intact families). Respondents were recruited via online postings, correspondence with organizations and word of mouth.A survey packet was created to measure relationship satisfaction, reactions to conflict in relationships and demographic data to ascertain how similar or dissimilar the respondents were as well as their self-reported income level. Surveys were made available in paper format before being placed on an online university sponsored survey site where the majority of surveys were completed. The data were analyzed using a one way multiple analysis of variance to assess for differences in relationship satisfaction and conflict response and a chi square test of significance to assess for differences in socioeconomic status.The results showed that there was little difference between ACOD and respondents from intact families on relationship satisfaction or how they responded to conflict. Respondents from intact homes showed significantly higher scores on two of the survey subscales, investment (Multiple Determinants of Relationship Quality Inventory) and passion (Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory). This group also indicated that they handled conflict in their relationships better and their partners used more positive means to deal with conflict in their relationships than did the ACOD group. The ACOD respondents, however, had significantly higher income levels, which amounted to approximately two thousand dollars in salary per year.While the differences were minor, the similarity between group mean and responses would indicate that for this sample the experience of parental divorce did not create a permanent adverse effect on their SES or their ability to form healthy adult romantic relationships. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This study investigated the relations among parenting quality, parental differential treatment (PDT), perceived unfairness of PDT, direct and differential exposure to interparental conflict, and adjustment in a sample of 36S young adults from intact and divorced families. Participants completed online questionnaires regarding their own and their sibling's family experiences in middle adolescence and their present adjustment. Participants from divorced families differed from those from intact families on their reports of parenting quality, amount and unfairness of PDT, and direct and differential exposure to conflict. Results of regression analyses revealed that lower levels of parental affection, greater amounts of differential maternal affection and control, perceptions of receiving relatively Iess affection from parents than one's sibling. more perceived unfairness of PDT, and more frequent exposure to conflict predicted poorer adjustment in young adulthood. Limitations of the present study, directions for future research, and implications of the findings for clinical practice are discussed.

Using a risk and resilience theoretical framework, the present study examined the influence of parental divorce during childhood on father-child relationship quality in young adulthood. This relationship quality was measured using nurturant fathering and modified father involvement scales, and self-reports of current amount of face-to-face and verbal father-child contacts. Comparisons on these measures were made between 107 young adults from intact and 96 from divorced family backgrounds. The divorce group was also examined in isolation to explore how divorce-related factors, including structural, early contact, and interparental relationship factors. predict young adults' perceptions of their father-child relationship. Results show young adults from intact family backgrounds to report a comparatively stronger father-child relationship. Among divorce group participants, structural factors (higher father SES and joint custody) and early contact (greater percentage of time spent with father post-divorce) were predictors of higher scores on combined nurturant fathering and involvement measures. Greater early contact and stronger interparental relationship factors (low conflict and high contact and cooperativeness) similarly predicted current contact.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 267-323.

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of Psychology, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-50).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 176-194). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (LLM)--Macquarie University, Division of Law. / Bibliography: leaves 192-208.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-102).