College-Age Children of Divorce:

Abstract

The potential effects of parental separation and/or divorce on college students was investigated. Previous research comparing children from nonintact families to those from intact families has been inconclusive due to methodological limitations, or contradictory as to whether potential effects last into adulthood. Fifty-eight male and female undergraduates from Fordham University, including 19 from nonintact families, were administered measures of interpersonal dependency, perceived social support from friends and family, locus of control, dating and assertion skills, social desirability, and depression. Multiple t-test comparisons did not yield significant differences between groups, suggesting that college students from nonintact families do not manifest adverse effects due to their parent's breakup, although they may be somewhat more asserive than those from intact families. Results are discussed in terms of possible mediating factors in adjustment, their compatibility to previous studies, methodologic...