Research has shown that stress is related to
negative physical and psychological changes among
adults. Compared to the large body of literature on
stress among adults, research on the effects of life
stress among children and adolescents is relatively
sparse. There is evidence, however, that stressful
life events are related to problems among children and
adolescents. Such problems include poor health,
psychological distress, depression, suicide, and
delinquent behavior. Research also has revealed
several factors that moderate stress in children and
adolescents. These factors include high self-esteem,
an internal locus of control orientation, and social
support from family and friends.
Five scales measuring locus of control
orientation, social support, level of psychosocial
development, self-esteem, life events, and delinquent
behavior were given to thirty early adolescents from
divorced homes and thirty-four adolescents from intact
homes.
Results of regression analysis, using a general
linear model, indicated that early adolescents from
divorced homes had lower levels of self-esteem than
children from intact homes. There were no significant
differences between children from divorced and intact
families in levels of delinquent behavior, locus of
control, or psychosocial development as reflected in
levels of autonomy, intimacy, and identity. Multiple
regression analysis revealed that social support in
the form of close friend support had a significant
moderating effect on the delinquent behavior of early
adolescents experiencing parental divorce. Levels of
parental, teacher, and classmate support, as well as
self-esteem and locus of control orientation, did not
show any moderating effects on delinquent behavior.
This study indicates that the impact of parental
divorce on early adolescents is influenced by many
factors. This study lends support to the need to
investigate the effects of divorce on children and
adolescents in terms of the coping resources available
to the child. / Graduation date: 1992
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/36997 |
| Date | 03 April 1992 |
| Creators | Olszewski, Mary Elizabeth |
| Contributors | Moran, Patricia B. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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