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Divorce. Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D. Divorce Statistics. Changes in divorce from 1960s until now. Following a divorce, 84% of children reside with their mothers. Changes in the methods in which we do research in divorce. Research in Divorce.
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Divorce Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.
Divorce Statistics • Changes in divorce from 1960s until now. • Following a divorce, 84% of children reside with their mothers. • Changes in the methods in which we do research in divorce.
Research in Divorce • Past: assumed 2-parent family structure necessary for successful child socialization. • Many early studies flawed. • Many did not investigate significant mediating factors.
Research in Divorce • Current researchers: take a life course, risk and resilience perspective. • Divorce is one step in a series of family transitions that affect family relationships & children’s adjustment.
Effects of Divorce • Immediately following the divorce. • Symptoms most commonly seen. • After the divorce….children are less socially, emotionally, and academically well adjusted than are children in non-divorced families.
Problems related to divorce • Adolescence – more likely to drop out of school • More likely to become pregnant. • More likely to engage in antisocial / delinquent behavior. • More clinical problems. • Young adulthood – level of achievement, quality of close personal relationships, fewer financial resources.
Can anything positive come out of divorce? • Girls: lots of conflict before divorce, more competent after divorce.
Factors that mediate divorce • Age – early studies indicated younger, better. • Recent studies – no. • Gender – early studies – negative adjustment for boys; remarriage problematic for girls. • Recent studies: behavior problems increase in adolescence – greater risk for girls.
Factors that mediate divorce • Personality • Intelligence • Competency • Easy temperament • High self-esteem • Internal locus of control • Good sense of humor
Should parents stay together for the kids? • The effects of high conflict. • Personality profile.
What can parents do to help? • Children’s adjustment = quality of parenting. • Warm, supportive, communicative, responsive to needs, firm & consistent control, positive discipline, MONITOR closely.
What can parents do to help? • Non-custodial parent MUST be involved. • Supportive • Child not feel in the middle • Economics • coparenting
Father Absence Literature • Meta analysis 67 studies • Stevenson & Black • 60% of all marriages end in divorce • 90% of all cases, mom gets custody • 1/6th children see dad 1x/week • 50% do not see dad at all • 2/3rds have no relationship with dad 10 years post divorce
Is dad necessary for a good outcome with kids? • YES! • The role of child support. • Issues of poverty. • Why aren’t dads more involved? • The role of mom’s attitudes towards dad.
Why isn’t dad around more? • Employment • Women’s attitudes • Depression • Workplace issues • Fatherhood programs • Start with our sons early on.
Effects on children • More aggression …. Why? • More antisocial behaviors. • Hetherington – before 5 years old • Adelson – sex role development of boys • Armsden – attachment & adolescents
Effects on children • Stevenson & Black – stereotypical sex-typed toys. • Conceptions of masculine & feminine roles. • Block – sex roles & socialization • Lamb – the role of the peer group
Effects on children • Biller & Bahm – masculine behavior • Beaty – adolescent males & peers • Father absence & daughters • Early sexual activity • More likely to be sexually abused • Early pregnancy
Effects on children • Newcomer & Udry – minor delinquencies • Ballard et al – sexually abused; early sexual relations; multiple sex partners • Daughters & “caring” dads
Father absence & African American Males • Paschall et al – • Cernkovich & Giordano – parental control & supervision • Griffin et al – parental monitoring & substance use & delinquency • Paschall et al – attachment & violence • Single moms