Divorced Women

Abstract

This study is an attempt to explain the changes in the self-identities of divorced women by means of their socio-economic backgrounds, three life-stage variables and two variables pertaining to relationships with former and present partners. The sample included 70 custodial Israeli mothers who have been divorced at least two years. The major finding was that the socio-economic indicators were the best predictors of positive changes in the self-identities, while relationship variables were only weakly associated with them. There were also interactions between the economic situation and the women's life cycle indicators, such that lower status women improved their self-identities more when they were older, had a longer time since divorce, and if their youngest children were older. These may suggest that middle class women had more opportunities to realize their potential due to the better availability of various resources.