Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Divorce is a world-wide phenomenon. Divorce means the ending of a marriage after a period of unity and bonding; and thus it can take a long time to recover emotionally, particularly for children. Concerningly, half of marriages ends in divorce. Studies found that divorce has an effect on the well-being, behaviour and actions of both adults and children. Children’s lives change irrevocably and it can be contributed to the parents’ separation or divorce. The manner in which children respond emotionally and psychologically to divorce is dependent on their age, and this event could be both confusing and traumatising. The adolescent stage is viewed as the most vulnerable stage of development, where identity is the primary focus; and thus these children are most severely impacted by their parents’ divorce. There was a dearth of studies on the effects of divorce on adolescents after the divorce finalisation, known as post-divorce phase, and thus no clear interventions.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine the complex process adults traverse in their passage through divorce and in their establishment of post-divorce intimate relationships. The goal of this work was to describe how adults interpret their divorce experience, particularly in terms of how it connects with their ideas about intimacy and post-divorce intimate relationships. Four theoretical frameworks guided this study. Social constructionism provided a framework for understanding that reaction to a divorce may be impacted by language, in terms of the explanations an individual makes, by social interchange with others, and by the cultural meanings of marriage and divorce that have influenced a person’s thinking and perceptions. Attribution theory contributed a systematic approach to understanding how people may construe their divorce in ways that may damage trust, promote a sense of mastery and optimism regarding future relationships, or encourage creative change. Attachment theory provided a conceptual basis for examining the interplay between stability and change in adult conceptualizations of intimate relationships, processes that underlie how adults cope with changing interpersonal situations. Finally, theories of loss and renewal offered a conceptual basis for understanding how reactions to loss evolve over time, and enter post-divorce relationships. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 divorced men and women. Analysis of data was guided by the research questions and structured by a phenomenological approach to the analysis of themes and variations of themes found in the interviews. Peer review and triangulation of data were used to ensure trustworthiness in the findings. This study contributes new understandings about the connection between divorce experiences and post-divorce intimacy. Three conclusions can be drawn from this study. First, data analysis revealed divorce served consistently as a catalyst for interpretation and personal growth. An important component of this interpretive endeavor was the social context within which divorce occurred. Because divorce still carries some stigma in our society, divorce provided a challenge to create positive meanings from this experience. Second, the idiosyncratic understandings developed through the interpretive process shaped adults’ post-divorce perceptions and experiences in intimate relationships. From the attributions made regarding causes of divorce, these adults claim to have made deliberate changes in communication patterns, interactions, attitudes, and expectations from self and partner in intimate relationships. Third, during this process, some fundamental shifts in mental representations occurred. Changes were linked to gender, with women viewing themselves as more assertive in relationships, and men viewing themselves as more egalitarian and responsible for relationship maintenance. / Ph. D.

Submitted by CARLA MARIA GOULART DE MORAES (carlagm) on 2015-06-24T19:51:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RogerioIsotton.pdf: 2415937 bytes, checksum: 3456c33a204d1bb05e1a3cb50a08ba63 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-24T19:51:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RogerioIsotton.pdf: 2415937 bytes, checksum: 3456c33a204d1bb05e1a3cb50a08ba63 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Banco Santander / Banespa / O cenário familiar contemporâneo vem sofrendo transformações que propiciam às famílias constituírem-se de diferentes maneiras. Junto com esse contexto de transições, a paternidade também está em processo constante de transformação e vem agregando características que a situam cada vez mais distante dos modelos tradicionais. O índice de famílias pós-divórcio chefiadas por um dos genitores aumentou consideravelmente nos últimos anos, atingindo, segundo IBGE, um percentual de 21,8% em 2007. Deste total registrado em 2007, 9,8% são famílias pós-divórcio chefiadas pelo pai. O objetivo desta pesquisa, a partir disso, é compreender o exercício da paternidade em famílias pós-divórcio, nas quais o pai detém a guarda unilateral dos filhos. Sob o método qualitativo, com base no estudo de casos, esta pesquisa teve como participantes três pais e um dos filhos, com idade entre seis e 13 anos de idade, que estava sob a guarda dos pais por um período mínimo de seis meses . Como resultado, observou-se que os pais que conduzem essa configuração familiar acumulam tarefas como atividades domésticas, criação e educação dos filhos e sustento financeiro do lar. Dois dos pais trabalham como profissionais liberais, podendo flexibilizar seus horários e conciliar com as atividades domésticas e envolvimento com os filhos. O outro trabalha em empresa de transporte, mas estava em período de licença, dispondo de tempo para cumprir suas tarefas. Os pais evidenciaram uma relação de companheirismo com os filhos, característica também demonstrada por estes. Aqueles entendem que sua presença na vida dos filhos, oferecendo-lhes amor, carinho, segurança e sustento são primordiais para o bom exercício da paternidade e para a promoção de um desenvolvimento saudável. O documento desta dissertação está composto por três seções. A primeira é constituída pelo relatório da pesquisa, na qual os casos foram apresentados, analisados e discutidos. A segunda seção consubstancia-se em um artigo teórico cujo objetivo foi discutir a nomenclatura atribuída, na literatura, para identificar as famílias pós-divórcio chefiadas por um dos genitores. Como última seção, foi elaborado um artigo empírico, que apresenta um recorte dos dados da pesquisa realizada, a partir da análise de conteúdo das entrevistas feitas com os pais. / The contemporary family scenario is going through changes that lead families to set themselves in different ways. Along with this transition context, paternity is also in constant process of transformation, and it has been adding features that put it continually more distant from the traditional models. The rate of post-divorce famili es headed by one parent has increased considerably in recent years, reaching, according to IBGE, a percentage of 21.8% in 2007. Of this total registered in 2007, 9.8% are post-divorce families headed by a father. The objective of this research, from this scenario, is to understand the fatherhood exercise in post-divorce families, in which the father has the unilateral custody over the children. Under the qualitative method, based on case studies, this research had as participants three parents and one of the children, aged between six and thirteen years old, who was in the custody of the parents for a minimum period of six months. As a result, it was found that the parents who lead this family configuration accumulate tasks like household chores, children’s care and education, as well as the household financial support. Two of the parents work as autonomous professionals, being able to flex their schedules and reconcile them with domestic activities and the involvement with the children. The other parent works on a transportation company, but he was on an off-work period, having time to accomplish his tasks. Parents showed a companionship relationship with the children, a characteristic also shown by the kids. Those understand that their presence in their children’s lives, offering them love, affection, security and support is essential for the proper exercise of fatherhood and to promote a healthy development. This dissertation paper is composed of three sections. The first consists of the research report, in which the cases are presented, analyzed and discussed. The second section is a theoretical paper, whose purpose is to discuss the given literature terminology in order to identify the post-divorce families headed by one parent. As the last section, an empiric article was developed, that presents part of the survey data from the content analysis of the interviews carried out with parents.

This dissertation is about post-divorce families. The central question is how family is constructed after divorce. The aim is to study how family relationships are negotiated, transformed and reproduced after the separation. The research is based on 24 in-depth interviews with twelve young adults, between the ages of 21 and 29, with divorced parents. Their narratives about their families are analysed using a theoretical framework inspired by the individualization theories (Beck & Beck-Gernsheim 2001; Giddens 1997, 1995) and the doing family perspective (Morgan 1996; Silva & Smart 1999a), especially focusing on the concepts of negotiation and family practices. More specific questions raised in the dissertation are how are family boundaries drawn by the young adults? How do the interviewees understand the new organization of their families, which has been renegotiated after the separation? What perception of motherhood and fatherhood can be found in the narratives? And, finally, to what extent are family relationships after divorce negotiated in the way that the individualization theories claim? The results show a quite complex picture of family life after divorce. While both parents are often described as participating parents, the family practices after divorce appear clearly gendered. The mother’s involvement in taking care of the child seems not to be negotiable in the same way as the father’s. Hence, motherhood appears natural and taken for granted to a much greater extent than fatherhood. The negotiations between the parents after divorce can be of both an explicit and implicit character according to the narratives, but yet another kind of negotiation are the indirect negotiations. In these negotiations, the child is used as a go-between or carrier, a position that seems to limit their own possibility to participate in the decision making. Another aspect that seems to diminish children’s participation is the principle of loyalty to both their biological parents. The results also show that the children’s living arrangements after divorce are characterized by changes and renegotiations rather than being permanent. The parents’ new partners are described in different ways in the narratives, however, they are often seen as turning points that have a major influence on the family relationships. The nuclear family as a normative ideal is present in all the interviews but in different ways. While some express an explicit critique of it, others regard it as something that they want for themselves in the future. What constitutes a family according to the narratives? Firstly, blood ties and formal relationships are pointed out. Secondly, the feeling of solidarity and closeness is viewed perhaps as the most evident element of family life. This feeling can be created by open communication as well as by spending time together on a regular basis. Thirdly, growing up together and/or sharing everyday life practices are also considered as vital to develop and maintain close family ties. This means that the family boundaries after divorce are renegotiated over time rather than permanent. These negotiations take place in a certain context, where gender norms, earlier experiences and other social relationships play an important role.

The thesis deals with the issue of possible roles that children may play due to a pre- divorce behaviour of their parents and a divorce and a post-divorce situation. The theme of these roles, resp. their list and description of some of them are to varying degrees part of almost every publication focused on the topic of divorce, or the topic of children in it. However, none of these publications addresses this issue in sufficient depth and detail. The theoretical part of the work introduces the knowledge on this topic published so far and creates a new theoretical system, resp. organization of undesirable roles of children in divorce and post-divorce situations. The empirical work then describes a qualitative survey focused on the identification of roles in the pre-divorce and especially the divorce and post-divorce situation. 14 respondents participated in this survey. The analysis of their statements further developed and modified the created theoretical system. It also added practical examples, putting this whole theoretical concept into a practical context. Keywords divorce, role of a child, pre-divorce situation, post-divorce situation

The thesis "Shared Custody - Advantages and Disadvantages" focuses on joint custody as one of post-divorce arrangements. The theoretical part summarizes important position of a family in child's life, the position of parents and children in the time of divorce, and covers shared custody after divorce. It points out pros and cons of shared custody in more details and summarizes presumptions for its successful implementation. The survey represents opinions of professionals on shared custody, its pros and cons as well as important criteria such as suitable time interval and suitable child's age for joint custody. In addition, personal experience case studies are added for better illustration. The aim of the thesis is to point out aspects that are necessary to focus on while choosing this type of post-divorce arrangement.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente estudo aborda pesquisa que teve como objetivo principal investigar a possibilidade de usar um método inspirado pelo construcionismo social para o trabalho com um grupo de mães, pais e filhos que passaram pelo divórcio em suas famílias. Para a investigação foi realizado um grupo, composto por mães, pais e filhos entre 18 e 25 anos, que não pertenciam à mesma família, mas que tinham em comum a experiência do divórcio. Também foi empreendido estudo teórico sobre temas relacionados ao construcionismo social; as mudanças na família contemporânea; divórcios e organizações familiares dele decorrentes; o trabalho com grupos e a contribuição do construcionismo para esse campo. O trabalho se propôs a articular os três temas principais nele presentes: o construcionismo social, o trabalho com grupos e o divórcio. Durante os dez encontros foram conversados tanto espontaneamente como através das dinâmicas propostas, temas relacionados ao divórcio, convivência com os filhos e relações com ex-parceiros, entre outros. O foco da elaboração das dinâmicas pretendia aproveitar a diferença de posicionamento entre os participantes como ferramenta para mudança. Outro objetivo da pesquisa era observar se através da participação no grupo as pessoas transformavam suas relações com outras fora do grupo, como filhos e ex-parceiros em uma direção de menos conflitos e disputas. Ao longo do grupo foi relatado pelos participantes em vários momentos tanto o valor da diferença para reflexão e mudança de visão sobre a situação que viviam como a transformação de relações conflituosas a partir das conversas ocorridas no grupo. O material gerado nas conversas grupais foi analisado através da poética social, metodologia de cunho construcionista. Ficou evidenciado que o grupo entendido como espaço conversacional é um dispositivo útil para o diálogo e para a produção de novos sentidos tanto em relação à vida de cada um dos participantes, como promovendo questionamentos e a desconstrução de linguagens sociais relacionadas aos temas do divórcio, relações entre pais e filhos e relações familiares em geral. / This study discusses research that aimed to investigate the possibility of using a method inspired by social constructionism to work with a group of mothers, fathers and children who have gone through divorce in their families. The research was conducted with a group composed of mothers, fathers and children between 18 and 25 years, who did not belong to the same family, but had in common the experience of divorce. Theoretical study was also undertaken on topics related to social constructionism, the changes in contemporary family divorce and family organizations thereunder; work with groups and constructionist contribution to this field. The study aimed to articulate the three major themes present in it: social constructionism, working with groups and divorce. During the ten meetings the conversations, both spontaneous and proposed by the dynamics, were mainly around issues related to divorce, such as, living together with children and relationships with ex-partners, among others. The focus of elaboration of the dynamics was to use the difference of positioning between participants as a tool for change. Another objective of the study was to observe whether, through participation in the group, people transformed their relationships with others outside the group, such as children and former partners in a direction of less conflicts and disputes. Throughout the group was reported by participants, both the value of the difference for reflection and change of view on the situation that lived, as the transformation of conflictual relations from the conversations occurring in the group. The material generated in group conversation was analyzed by social poetics a social constructionist inspired methodology. It was evident that the group understood as a conversational space is a useful device for dialogue and to produce new meanings, both in relation to the life of each participant, as promoting questioning and deconstruction of social languages related to the topics of divorce, relationships parents and children and family relationships in general.

The main purpose of the present study was to compare marital satisfaction among marital status (first married, post-divorce remarried and post-bereavement remarried) and gender. In addition, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of stepchildren on marital satisfaction of remarried individuals. Besides, it was also aimed to investigate the predictive power of demographic and contextual variables on marital satisfaction of first married families, of post-divorce remarried families, of post bereavement remarried families, and of those who had stepchildren. Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and Demographic Information Form were administered 116 first married and 223 remarried individuals. To test the hypotheses of the study ANOVA, ANCOVA, and Stepwise Multiple Regression Analyses were performed. Results revealed that men had higher level of marital satisfaction than women. However, there was no significant difference between the marital satisfaction of first married individuals, post-divorce remarried individuals, and post-bereavement remarried individuals. It was also found that remarried individuals with residential stepchildren had lower marital satisfaction than remarried individuals with non-residential stepchildren and those without stepchildren. In addition, results yielded that for first married individuals length of marriage and income / for post-divorce remarried individuals gender and presence of mutual children / for post-bereavement remarried individuals length of current marriage and income / and for those with stepchildren only residence of stepchildren significantly predicted marital satisfaction. The findings of the study were discussed in the light of relevant literature

ABSTRACT POST-DIVORCE EXPERIENCE OF HIGHLY EDUCATED AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN Kavas, Serap Ph.D., Department of Sociology Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Ayse Gunduz Hosgor July 2010, 327 pages Based on life-story interviews with women this dissertation analyzes post divorce experience of highly-educated and professional women. Economic, social, psychological well-being of divorced women / specifically, how they manage to adapt to their new lives after legal dissolution were examined. As is shown in our research while divorce caused various difficulties including financial, social and parenting problems, it, on ther other hand provided relief, for the participants. The participants developed wide range of survival strategies in the face of difficulties and challenges they experience which attested to their agency during and after the divorce process. To the study, while an urbanite, educated and professional woman&rsquo / s termination of a failing relationship itself can be considered as liberation on her part, it will be an overstatement to say that women are enjoying their independence and start anew, just as men do. In this connection, this study searched for insights into the question: How does act of divorce affect these women with respect to their empowerment? Feminist theory is used over the duration of this study. The study scrutinized on the emergent themes such as societal attitudes, single parenting, remarriage, intergenerational and intra-family transmission of divorce, financial consequence, and women&rsquo / s varying coping strategies as well as many other common themes emerged. Studying post-divorce experience of women, which is an unexplored area in Turkish context, employing qualitative method and dwelling on grounded theory approach as an inductive way of data analysis, this study intends to be a considerable contribution to the literature.