Divorced Families Research Articles

A Study on the Symbols in the Sandplay Therapy of Children in Divorced Families by Age

This study focused on the sandplay therapy process of 8 children of divorced families by age and analyzed these cases by applying the qualitative case study method according to Stake’s (1995) reactive evaluation. We found, first, among the children of divorced families, that the symbol revealed in the sandpictures of the youngest (7-year-old) children was a negative maternal symbol. Second, the symbol revealed in the sandpictures of the next oldest (9-year-old) children was alchemical purification and transformation. Third, the symbol revealed in the sandpictures of children at the end of childhood (11 years old) was self-arrangement and struggle. Fourth, the symbol revealed in the sandpictures of children aged 12 to 13, the early age of adolescents, was the appearance of the paternal circle. The results revealed the development of a masculine consciousness that overcame dependence on motherhood and transitioned into a patriarchal world. In this way, the children of divorced families re-enactment relationships through symbols in the process of sandplay therapy to achieve self- development by age, deconstructing the mental structures, and reaching the stage of self-arrangement, revealing their progress toward growth.

이혼한 결혼이주여성의 재영토화 과정에 관한 내러티브 생애사 연구

According to the National Statistical Office’s 2020 Marriage and Divorce Statistics (2021.3.18), the average marriage period for multicultural divorced families in 2020 is 8.7 years. the average marriage period of Korean divorced families is 17.4 years. In addition, the divorce rate of multicultural families in 2021 is 6.2%, with 4.3% of wives being foreigners and 1.9% of husbands being foreigners. In this study, to explore the reasons for divorce of multicultural divorced families when their wives are foreigners, the factors of conflict and the process of overcoming them were examined in The Re- Territorial Process of three women who divorced after migrant marriage. The research participant A tried to connect to Korea, but was frustrated by her husband’s attitude of treating her as a ‘money- buying person’, and divorced, and worked to recognize herself. The research participant B showed active reactions such as marrying her husband who worked together at the factory despite the dissuade of her mother, but she divorced her husband who changed violently. The research participant C endured husband’s violent for the child, but rather was divorced by the husband. Marriage migration is a move to a completely different territory, so Re-Territorialization is inevitable, and awareness of this Re- Territorial Process is necessary for both Korean residents and migrant women coming to Korea.

Examining the influence of adversity, family contexts, and a family-based intervention on parent and child telomere length

ABSTRACT Background: Exposure to adversity, trauma, and negative family environments can prematurely shorten telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. Conversely, some evidence indicates that positive environments and psychosocial interventions can buffer the shortening of telomere length (TL). However, most work has examined individual aspects of the family environment as predictive of TL with little work investigating multiple risk and protective factors. Further, most research has not examined parent TL relative to child TL despite its heritability. Objective: In the current study, we examined interparental conflict, positive parenting, alcohol use, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and a family-based intervention as predictive of parent TL. We also examined interparental conflict, positive parenting, ACEs, and a family-based intervention as predictive of child TL. Method: Parents and adolescents from a sample of divorced families participated in either a 10-session family-based intervention, the New Beginnings Programme (NBP), or a 2-week active control condition. Approximately six years after the intervention, a subsample of parents (n = 45) and adolescents (n = 41) were assessed for TL. Parents reported on interparental conflict, ACEs, and alcohol use. Children reported on interparental conflict, positive parenting, and ACEs. In separate models, these constructs and the NBP intervention condition were examined as predictors of parent TL and child TL. Results: Findings indicated that the family-based intervention was associated with longer TL in parents. Also, positive parenting was associated with longer TL in children. Conclusions: These findings have important implications for the role of the family and family-based preventive interventions in buffering parent and child biological stress. HIGHLIGHTS Across multiple indices of psychosocial functioning, we found a family-based intervention associated with longer telomere length in parents and positive parenting associated with longer telomere length in children.

Adverse Childhood Experience Relationship With Depression In Adolescents

This study aims to determine the relationship between adverse childhood experience and depression in adolescents. This research uses quantitative method. The sampling technique used was random sampling, and analyzed by t-test with the Stata 13 program. The population in this study were teenagers who were in SMA Batik 1 Surakarta at the time this research was conducted, and were willing to be the sample in this study. So that the sample used in this study amounted to 150 respondents. Sample selection using random method. Data collection in this study was carried out using a questionnaire instrument. The data analysis technique used is simple linear regression analysis, then the data is processed using the SPSS 20 . software application. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that ACE has a positive and significant effect on depression experienced in adolescence. Status as the youngest child and aged between 15 years - 17 years, is an accompaniment to the onset of depression in adolescents. It was further stated that in this study family conditions were not the cause of depression in adolescents, from 150 respondents there were 125 respondents who came from divorced families and one or both of their parents remarried but experienced depression caused by ACE.

The effect of parental divorce on the sexual life and marital well-being of offspring in China

Over the past few decades, the increasing divorce rate has been one of the most prominent behavioral changes influencing Chinese families and the nurturing and socialization of children. Research has found that parental divorce exerts only a limited negative impact on children's socioeconomic achievement in China relative to that in Western societies. However, few studies have explored the long-term consequences of parental divorce on children's demographic outcomes in China. Therefore, how parental divorce influences the timing of offspring's first sexual intercourse and marriage, as well as its impact on their sexual and marital well-being, were investigated in this study. Based on findings obtained using data from the Chinese Private Life Survey, children from divorced families were more likely to initiate sexual intercourse at younger ages than those from intact families, although the two groups entered their first marriage at similar ages. Regarding sexual and marital well-being, married men and women who experienced parental divorce during childhood were less satisfied with their current marriage and marital sex and exhibited a higher level of divorce proneness and more sexual dysfunction symptoms than those from intact families. The effect of parental divorce on marital well-being was also largely mediated by the onset of sexual intercourse at a younger age. Having more years of premarital sexual experience was associated with lower sexual satisfaction, more sexual dysfunction symptoms, and more liberal sexual attitudes and behaviors. The worsening of sexual life also further undermined marital well-being.

Divorce in transnational families: Norms, networks, and intersecting categories

AbstractThis paper highlights the originality and scholarly contributions of the present Special Issue on transnational divorces in three ways. First, it examines two sets of related literature and situates the Special Issue within them: one on divorces, in general, and the other on divorces in transnational families (also called here “transnational divorce”). This exercise identifies the scholarly tendencies and gaps needing immediate attention in the study of divorce at the present age of family (re)composition. Second, the paper discusses how the special issue addresses the lacunas in the literature through “transborder intersectionality,” that is, a combination of transnational and intersectional perspectives. And third, based on its five empirically grounded case studies, it unveils the main structuring forces in transnational divorces: norms (social and legal), networks (transnational family support, local social ties…), and intersecting categories (gender, social class, legal status…). The paper ends with research directions for the future study of divorces traversing nation‐states’ borders.

“Going down the Rabbit Hole”: Relational Tensions Experienced by Alienated Parents during Reconnection

ABSTRACT Parental alienation (PA), typically identified in divorced families, is a form of nonvoluntary family distancing wherein one parent employs maladaptive communication patterns to sever the relationship between the other parent and child(ren). This study examines the reconnection phase of PA from the alienated parent perspective, elucidating tensions salient to PA as well as enacted communication management strategies. Alienated parents who experienced PA and reinitiated contact were recruited to participate in retrospective interviews. Four dialectical tensions and corresponding communication strategies were identified. Data provide a more holistic understanding of PA reconnection experiences. Findings are vital to building supportive resources for PA.

Radzenie sobie z rozwodem rodziców w narracjach młodych dorosłych kobiet i mężczyzn z rodzin rozwiedzionych

Parents’ divorce is an extremely difficult event for a child and how they deal with it depends to a large extent on the behavior of parents in a divorce situation. This event forces children to find themselves in a new reality, which they may not understand and do not accept, and which irreversibly marks their lives. The strategies described in this article were drawn from the biographies of young adults from divorced families. Data analysis was performed using grounded theory procedures. The article attempts to describe some methods / strategies that were undertaken by young people in the event of their parents’ divorce. This situation requires dealing with new emotions, requires adaptation to many different changes in life, and even meeting situations related to conflicts and quarrels between parents. Therefore, appropriate support is very important, not only for divorcing parents, but also for children who may be neglected during this period because of problems that their parents are trying to deal with.

Modern lifestyle risks associated with alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in Ukraine

ABSTRACT Background Substance uses confer huge risks to public health in modern society. This study aimed to evaluate current factors related to alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking in the Republic of Ukraine. Methods We distributed a questionnaire to healthy volunteers in four Ukrainian regions and collected 929 responses regarding demographic information, reasons for starting substance use, substance use family history, environmental factors, use pattern (Internet, drinking, or smoking), consequences of drinking, and insomnia. Linear regression and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors related to alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking. Results Aging appeared to attenuate either drinking or smoking. To reduce school- or job-related stress, staying awake, peer pressure, friend-related issues, to increase sexual desire, and single parenting all would trigger drinking; male gender, family divorce, unhealthy diet, and lack of awareness about harmful consequences were the main factors leading to smoking. Logistic regression analysis suggested that education background, sleep problems, celebration events, and lengthy Internet work all could contribute to drinking. Conclusions Various real-world factors related to substance uses were identified for the public of Ukraine. A validated instrument would help to identify risk factors in patients with substance use disorders.

Role of parental divorce and discord in the intergenerational transmission of alcohol use disorder

BackgroundAlcohol use disorder (AUD) has a strong familial component, and is associated with divorce and relationship discord. The purpose of this study was to test whether exposure to parental divorce and parental relationship discord contributes to the intergenerational transmission of AUD. MethodsThe sample included N = 9005 adult twins (43% female) from the Virginia Adult Twin Study of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders. Participant AUD diagnoses were derived from structured clinical interviews based on DSM-IV alcohol dependence. Participants also reported on parental divorce and parental AUD. In addition, direct psychiatric interview data and measures of relationship discord were available for a subsample of parents of female-female twin pairs (855 mothers, 617 fathers). Indirect effects models were fit and tested using a robust maximum likelihood estimator with Monte Carlo integration. ResultsPath and structural equation modeling results provided strong support for the intergenerational transmission of AUD, and indicated that parental AUD had indirect effects on offspring AUD through exposure to parental divorce and parental relationship discord. Effects were consistent across males and females. ConclusionsIn a population-based adult twin sample, exposure to parental divorce and relationship discord appears to be important for understanding the intergenerational transmission of AUD. These effects are broadly consistent with the idea of genetic nurturance, whereby parents transmit genetic risk for alcohol use disorder to their children indirectly via heritable aspects of the home environment. Ultimately, this etiological information could bolster engagement with skills-based therapeutic efforts used in substance-related preventive interventions for divorced or distressed families.

Validation of the Romanian version of coparenting relationship scale

Studies show that children from divorced families are more likely to experience emotional and behavioral problems, which is why researchers have focused on finding factors that facilitate children's post-divorce adaptation. One of these factors is coparenting. Thus, to measure the quality of coparenting, the Coparenting Relationships Scale (CRS) was developed. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate this scale for the Romanian population. It was used a combination between the procedure of back-translation and the techniques derived from the work of a team, used for adapting the scale for Brazil-Spanish speakers. Data were obtained from a sample of 504 people. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the Romanian translation of the items. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the final factor solution with six subscales and 28 items was considered acceptable, unlike the original version of the scale, consisting of 7 factors and 35 items . The Romanian Version of CRS revealed good internal consistency on all subscales, with coefficients similar to the original scale. The Romanian Version of the CRS can be used by practitioners to assess levels of parental conflict and to design interventions for children.

이혼가정 미술치료 연구 동향 분석

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and examine the research trends of art therapy for divorced families published in Korea from 2017 to 2021. A total of 22 domestic journals and dissertations were selected for the analysis, and the discussions were addressed following by year, subject, topic, method, and intervention environment which were based on the analysis framework. The result of the analysis as follows. First, the researches on art therapy in 2017 was 40.9%, which was higher than those in 2016. Second, the objects of the analysis were children (81%), the main nurturer was his or her father, and the period of divorce was high (31.8%) over 5 and below 6 years. Third, the subjects relating to psychological and emotional research was 37.1%. Fourth, the case studies was 95.5% for research method, the scale tests which values emotion and behaviors was 33.3% for evaluation tool, and HTP(House-Tree-Person Test was 10.4% for projection test. Finally, as for the intervention environment, the treatment period was over 6 under 12months, once a week, the duration time over 40mins under 60mins, the sessions over 16 under 20 sessions, and the individual treatment was the highest (59.1%) for therapy method. Based on this analysis, this paper anticipates to provide implications for the future research of art therapy for divorced families.

Parental addiction, conflicts and marital disruption: perception of adult children of divorced parents

Divorce is a stressful event often combined with spouse conflict which significantly affects the way children experience the consequences of family reorganization. Various factors contribute to the impact of divorce on child development, one of the most decisive being the quality of parental relationship prior to, during and after divorce.
 The article addresses one main question how spouses’ conflict during the process of divorce is intertwined with a child’s experience. 
 Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adult children (7 men and 13 women) from divorced families. Adults ranged in age 21 to 42 years old. Five to twenty years passed from their parents’ divorce.
 The results show that in the cases of violent parents’ relationships or family relationships with addiction prior to divorce, the participants experienced relief when the nuclear family dissolved; however, in most cases conflict between parents persisted after divorce, the child being torn between both parents. When the conflict between the parents is combined with various addictions, the consequences for the child are even more devastating. In most cases, children were left to themselves.
 The findings of this study can therefore contribute to creating various forms of educational, consulting, or therapeutic help.

Family Structure in Association with Alcohol Use Among Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Context: It is proposed that family structure influences adolescent alcohol use; however, the findings are mixed, and no systematic review has been conducted to summarize the evidence. Objectives: We aimed to identify the association between family structures and adolescent alcohol consumption through a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched until June 2017 for observational studies, which examined the relationship between family structure and adolescent alcohol use. A random-effects model was used to derive the overall odds ratio (OR) for the likelihood of alcohol use in different non-intact families compared with intact families (adolescents growing up with both biological parents). DerSimonian and Liard's random-effects model was used to conduct the meta-analysis. All analyses were performed using STATA software, version 11.2. Results: Fifty-seven articles met the eligibility criteria for the systematic review, and 29 were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significant increase in alcohol use among adolescents with non-intact families (OR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.19, 1.36) compared with adolescents with intact families in which both biological parents were present. Living with one biological parent, living in a divorced family, loss of parents, and other types of the non-intact family also significantly increased the odds of alcohol use in adolescents (P < 0.05). Conclusions: All types of the non-intact family were linked to adolescents' alcohol use. The family structure could have an essential role in reducing high-risk behaviors, including alcohol use and its consequences in adolescents.

Game Addiction, Experiential Avoidance, Sensation Seeking and Aggression in the Teenagers of Divorced and Non-Divorced Families: A Comparative Study

Divorce is a phenomenon that affects not only the mental health of couples but also the psychological health of children. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to compare experiential avoidance, sensation seeking, game addiction, and aggression in teenagers of divorced and non-divorced families. The method of this study was causal-comparative. The statistical population of the study included all teenagers from divorced families and ordinary teenagers (teenagers in non-divorced families) in the first grade of high school in the academic year of 2017 - 2018 in Shiraz. The sample included 100 teenagers of divorced families and 100 ordinary teenagers in Shiraz who were selected by the purposing sampling method. The results of data analysis showed that there is a significant difference between experiential avoidance, sensation seeking, game addiction, and aggression in divorced and ordinary teenagers (P-value < 0.001). Teenagers with divorced parents have more experimental avoidance, sensation seeking, addiction to computer games, and aggression than ordinary teenagers. To improve these components, it is necessary to use treatments related to the components such as treatments of the third wave of psychology (i.e. treatment of mindfulness and positive psychotherapy).

Impact of parental divorce versus separation due to migration on mental health and self-injury of Chinese children: a cross sectional survey

BackgroundThere has been an increasing prevalence of parental separation in China due to divorce or migration for work in recent decades. However, few studies have compared the impacts of these two types of separation on children’s mental health. This study aimed to investigate how parental divorce and parental migration impact children’s mental health and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB), while considering positive factors, including parent-adolescent communication and psychological resilience.MethodsWe randomly recruited participants in grades 5–8 from 18 schools in 2 counties in Anhui Province. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted to measure children’s mental health, SITB, parent-adolescent communication, psychological resilience, and socio-demographic characteristics.ResultsData from 1026 children with both parents migrating (BLBC), 1322 children with one parent migrating (SLBC), 475 children living in a divorced family (DC) and 1160 children with non-migrating parents (NLBC) were included. Regression model results showed that, compared to the other three groups (BLBC, SLBC, NLBC), DC exhibited higher internalizing problems (p < 0.05), higher externalizing problems (p < 0.01), less prosocial behaviors (p < 0.05), and higher rates of suicidal ideation (SI) (p < 0.05) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors (p < 0.05) when adjusting for social-demographic variables. However, when further adjusting for parent-adolescent communication and psychological resilience, DC no longer had higher levels of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, NSSI and SI than left-behind groups (BLBC, SLBC).ConclusionsThe experience of separation from divorced parents had stronger negative effects on the mental health of children than was observed in LBC. The Chinese government should design special policy frameworks that provide support to DC.

Longitudinal associations between sibling relationship quality and child adjustment after divorce

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined the interplay between the parent–child and sibling relationships in their associations with child adjustment after divorce, in order to understand the postdivorce impact of the sibling relationship more thoroughly.BackgroundThe sibling relationship is unique in its lifetime duration and frequent interactions, and is associated with child adjustment in intact families. Research on the sibling relationship in divorced families is warranted, as it is one of the few stable factors in children's lives shortly after divorce.MethodTo examine direct and moderating effects of the sibling relationship, data from N = 117 children (Mage = 12.85) of 65 families and their recently divorced parents (60 mothers, 45 fathers) were used. Longitudinal associations of sibling support, sibling conflict, parent–child relationship quality, and their interactions with child adjustment were estimated with generalized estimating equations.ResultsThe sibling relationship was related to children's (relative change in) externalizing problems and self‐esteem over time, but not to internalizing problems. Especially high sibling support was found beneficial and buffered the adversity of sibling conflict regarding children's self‐esteem. There was no substantial evidence that siblings moderated parent–child relationship quality.ConclusionsIn the context of divorce and adequate parent–child relationship quality, the sibling relationship seems to be complementary rather than compensatory to that of parents. Given the role of siblings in externalizing behaviors and self‐esteem, potential benefits of targeting the sibling relationship in (preventive) interventions aimed at divorced families should be explored.

The Role of Sense of Belonging and Family Structure in Adolescent Adjustment.

The present study adopted an ecological perspective, and examined effects of sense of belonging to multiple contexts in relation to adolescent adjustment, as well as possible differences between adolescents from intact and divorced families. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate perceptions of family, school, peer, and neighborhood belonging among 969 adolescents. Results showed that mean level differences in belonging exist based on family structure, and that levels of family and neighborhood belonging vary between post-divorce maternal and paternal households. For all adolescents, sense of belonging predicted self-reported well-being, internalizing, and externalizing problems. Belonging was found to partly explain the relation between divorce and adjustment. Improving adolescents' belonging could therefore be an important step in ensuring a better adjustment post-divorce.

The Efficiency of a Group Counselling Program Based on a Problem-Solving Strategy in Reducing Psychological Stress Among Adolescent Girls of Divorced Families

This study aimed to reveal the effect of a group counseling program based on a problem-solving strategy in reducing psychological stress among adolescent girls from divorced families. The study sample consisted of (30) students from children of divorced families, in the age group (13-16) years, enrolled in one of the public schools in Zarqa in the second semester 2018/2019. To achieve the objectives of the study, a quasi-experimental design was adopted, in which the sample was divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 15), that was exposed to the counseling program, and a control group (n = 15) for whom the program was not presented. Both groups underwent a total of two sessions per week, in which the session duration ranged between (45-60) minutes. The results of the current study indicated that there were statistically significant differences between the average performance of the members of the experimental and control groups on the psychological stress test in its psychological, cognitive, and physiological dimensions in favor of the experimental group. This indicates the program’s efficiency in reducing psychological stresses. The study recommended developing more group counseling programs to address psychological, personal, social, and behavioral issues among adolescent girls and boys from divorced families.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 5 July 2021 / Accepted: 2 September 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

Parental Conflicts and Posttraumatic Stress of Children in High-Conflict Divorce Families

Parental conflicts consistently predict negative outcomes for children. Research suggests that children from high-conflict divorces (HCD) may also experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), yet little is known about the association between parental conflicts in HCD families and child PTSS. We investigated this association, hypothesizing that parental conflicts would predict child PTSS. We also tested the moderating role of interparental contact frequency, hypothesizing that frequent contact would intensify the association between parental conflicts and child PTSS. This study was part of an observational study on the outcomes of No Kids in the Middle (NKM), a multi-family group intervention for HCD families. A total of 107 children from 68 families participated in the study with at least one parent. We used pre- (T1) and post-intervention (T2) data. Research questions were addressed cross-sectionally, using regression analyses to predict PTSS at T1, and longitudinally, using a correlated change (T1 to T2) model. The cross-sectional findings suggested that mother- and child-reported conflicts, but not father-reported conflicts, were related to the severity of child PTSS. Longitudinally, we found that change in father-reported conflicts, but not change in child- or mother-reported conflicts, were related to change in child PTSS. The estimated associations for the different informants were not significantly different from one another. The frequency of contact between ex-partners did not moderate the relationship between parental conflicts and child PTSS. We conclude that there is a positive association between parental conflicts and child PTSS in HCD families independent of who reports on the conflicts.