Social Networks, Divorce, and Adjustment

Abstract

Divorcing individuals may rely upon members of their social network for support in a variety of ways. This may be especially important to the mothers of young children. Recent studies have shown that the parents of separated mothers play a central role in helping their daughters to cope. This paper empirically investigates the various types of help provided divorcing mothers by their parents. It will be shown that specific patterns of help are related to characteristics of the divorcing mother's relationship with her parents and that these patterns have different impacts upon the adjustment of the divorcing mother and her children.