TY - JOUR
T1 - Mechanisms behind Prolonged Effects of Parental Divorce
T2 - A Phenomenological Study
AU - Morrison, Sheala C.
AU - Fife, Stephen T.
AU - Hertlein, Katherine M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2017/1/2
Y1 - 2017/1/2
N2 - Much research has been aimed at evaluating the effect of divorce on children. The effects via the perceptions of adult children of divorce, however, are substantially underrepresented in this literature. Further, the studies that are published are out of date (often 20 years old), thus leading to questions as to whether the effects are the same as described. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain a retrospective analysis directly from adults who experienced their parents’ divorce in childhood to understand what aspects of the divorce, either positive or negative, followed them into adulthood. Specifically, we were interested in learning the mechanisms contributing to such effects. Eight women and 1 man participated in semistructured interviews. Participants identified communication and support as key factors in their experience, both positively and negatively. Implications for clinical treatment are presented.
AB - Much research has been aimed at evaluating the effect of divorce on children. The effects via the perceptions of adult children of divorce, however, are substantially underrepresented in this literature. Further, the studies that are published are out of date (often 20 years old), thus leading to questions as to whether the effects are the same as described. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain a retrospective analysis directly from adults who experienced their parents’ divorce in childhood to understand what aspects of the divorce, either positive or negative, followed them into adulthood. Specifically, we were interested in learning the mechanisms contributing to such effects. Eight women and 1 man participated in semistructured interviews. Participants identified communication and support as key factors in their experience, both positively and negatively. Implications for clinical treatment are presented.
KW - Children
KW - divorce
KW - divorce adjustment
KW - parental divorce
KW - phenomenological
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85010660409&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10502556.2016.1262652
DO - 10.1080/10502556.2016.1262652
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85010660409
VL - 58
SP - 44
EP - 63
JO - Journal of Divorce and Remarriage
JF - Journal of Divorce and Remarriage
SN - 1050-2556
IS - 1
ER -