Identifying Family Factors That Predict Children's Adjustment to Divorce

Abstract

In order to provide a means for identifying children at risk for socio-emotional dysfunctions, an inventory was developed based on a systemic analysis of factors influencing their divorce adjustment. A conceptual model resulted from a thorough review revealing five general sources of variation with regard to children's post-divorce adjustments. Items were empirically developed and analyzed in each of the five conceptual areas. Items that discriminated between well and poorly adjusted children as well as "well" and dysfunctional families were retained for the inventory. The study involved a factor analysis of the selected items to test the original model and produced four general factors related to children's divorce adjustment.