Parenting, Coparenting, and Adolescents' Sense of Autonomy and Belonging After Divorce

Although there is ample evidence on the importance of experiencing autonomy and belonging for positive adolescent development and the supporting role of parents in this regard, most knowledge stems from intact families. As many youth grow up with divorced parents, this study tested longitudinal links between warm and autonomy supportive parenting and coparental cooperation and conflict on the one hand, and adolescents' post-divorce autonomy and belonging on the other. Data consisted of three-wave self-report data of 191 Dutch adolescents (Mage = 14.36, 61.3% girls) and 227 divorced parents (Mage = 46.08, 74% mothers). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models showed stable between-family differences, with autonomy relating positively to coparenting and parental autonomy support, and belongingness associating positively solely with parenting. No significant effects were found within families, meaning that changes in (co)parental behaviors did not predict adolescents' experiences of autonomy and belonging or vice versa.

Parent-Child Relationships Following Gray Divorce: Stronger Ties With Mothers, Weaker Ties With Fathers

OBJECTIVES

With rising gray divorce rates, older individuals face heightened risk of social isolation, highlighting the significance of adult children as a vital source of solidarity in the absence of a spouse. Simultaneously, gray divorce may undermine parent-adult child relationships and weaken the core of the family safety net of older persons. This study examined the consequences of gray divorce for parent-child relationships.

METHODS

We used longitudinal data from the German Family Panel (Pairfam), a large-scale panel study collecting detailed information about family relationships and family structure. We focused on adult children aged 18-49 (n = 9,092) whose parents were married at first observation. During an observation period spanning up to 13 years (2008-2020), 606 individuals experienced parental divorce. Using fixed-effects models, we estimated changes in contact frequency, emotional closeness, and instrumental and emotional support provided to parents.

RESULTS

Consequences of gray divorce varied strongly between mothers and fathers. Adult-child solidarity intensified for mothers but eroded for fathers. This impact was strongest for changes in contact frequency, moderate for changes in emotional closeness, and smaller for changes in support. The persistence of gender role differentiation was evident, as daughters displayed closer ties and provided greater support to their mothers following a gray divorce.

DISCUSSION

Divorce alters relationships with adult children. A gray divorce tilts adult-child solidarity toward mothers and puts fathers at a higher risk of social isolation. Moreover, the observed gender dynamics underscore the continued influence of gender roles on family dynamics in the aftermath of gray divorce.

Trajectories of antidepressant use before and after union dissolution and re-partnering in later life: a prospective total population register-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Grey divorce and later remarriage have become increasingly common in high-income countries, but previous evidence on their impacts on mental health is scarce. Even less is known about the effects of non-marital separation and re-partnering in later life.

METHODS

Using Finnish registry data from 1996 to 2018 on 228 644 individuals aged 50-70 in 2000-2014, trajectories of antidepressant (AD) use 4 years before and 4 years after divorce, non-marital separation, bereavement and subsequent re-partnering were examined using individual fixed-effects (FE) linear probability models.

RESULTS

In adjusted FE models, for both genders AD use increased during the 4 years before divorce (men: 5.00 percentage points (95% CI 4.50 to 5.50); women: 6.96 (95% CI 6.34 to 7.59)), non-marital separation (men: 3.20 (95% CI 2.72 to 3.69); women: 5.98 (95% CI 5.30 to 6.66)) and bereavement (men: 4.53 (95% CI 3.97 to 5.09); women: 5.64 (95% CI 5.25 to 6.04)), with the increase accelerating immediately before the event. AD use gradually declined after union dissolution, after which it stabilised on a persistently higher level compared with pre-dissolution. Re-partnering was only associated with a small and transitory reduction in AD use (0.1-1.5 percentage points). The increases in AD use associated with union dissolution were larger in women than in men, whereas the small reductions in AD use associated with re-partnering were particularly short-lived among women.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that union dissolution in later life is associated with large and persistent increases in AD use, whereas the reductions associated with re-partnering are limited both in magnitude and duration.

What About the Children? Co-Occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Parental Separation

The aim of this study was to investigate (a) the extent to which child maltreatment co-occurs with parental separation and (b) associations between different types of child maltreatment and various types of separation-associated interparental conflict. Professionals working with children (N = 785) reported each case of suspected child maltreatment they observed during a 3-month period and indicated whether parental divorce or separation was about to take place or had taken place. This resulted in 530 reported cases that matched the definitions of child maltreatment for which information on parental relationship status was available. Most of the maltreated children (60%) also experienced (impending) parental separation. In 69% of these cases child maltreatment was associated with parental separation. Particularly, cases of emotional neglect, and emotional abuse co-occurred with parental separation. In addition, four clusters of separation-associated interparental conflict were distinguished- No observed conflict, Non-physical conflict, Verbal and physical conflict, and Multiple conflict-which were associated with child and family characteristics and specific types of child maltreatment. The results of this study suggest that child maltreatment often co-occurs with parental separation, especially when there is a considerable amount of interparental conflict.

Parents' experiences of their child's participation in divorce groups in Norway: A phenomenological study

BACKGROUND

Children and youth who experience divorce are found to have increased risk of emotional and behavioural adjustment problems. Different prevention programmes have been developed to help and support children. Previous studies have focused on the child or the group leader's experience with divorce groups, but studies describing parent's experience are missing. The aim of this study was to explore parents' experiences of their child's participation in divorce groups.

METHODS

An inductive, qualitative and descriptive design was applied with philosophical orientation in naturalistic inquiry based on the outlines of a phenomenological perspective. Two fathers and three mothers from two different counties in Norway participated whereof four of them were interviewed twice. Systematic text condensation was used for the analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged from the analysis: encouraging the child, missing communication and challenging situations. Parents described how they encouraged the child to attend divorce groups and hoped they would gain a deeper understanding of their parents' divorce and their own feelings. Missing communication relates to lack of information about the groups from the school, the group leader and from the child. Missing information was found to be a challenge for the parents and made them think that the divorce group was beneficial for the child but maybe not always for the family. Parents described challenging situations due to the divorce, and they struggled to understand their child and their own behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

The opportunity for the child to talk to other children in the same situation in divorce groups was positive for the parents. To be beneficial for both children and their parents, structured information and cooperation among the school, the child and both parents are important. The knowledge from this study can support the development and use of intervention programmes in the future.

Gender-based adjustment problems of divorcees in Hazara Division, Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

Divorce is one of the harshest realities in Eastern societies worldwide because it is an intact component of the elementary social institution of the family. Grievously, divorce rates are escalating with profound ramifications for divorcees in Asia, including Pakistan. Therefore, exploring the challenges after divorce with gender-based dimensions in the Pakistani context was necessary, particularly in Hazara Division.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The study followed a pragmatic approach through snowball sampling and recruited 75 respondents. The data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS 25. For descriptive statistics, frequencies of quantitative responses were determined using percentages, means, and standard deviations. Then Chi-Square Test of Independence, Principal Component Analysis, and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance were performed to find an association between the dependent and independent variables.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated that most divorcees face children-related issues followed by economic, social, and psychological issues that impede post-divorce adjustment of divorcees. Results showed that the immaturity of divorcees and gender-specific violence specifically for women make it challenging for them to cope with the situation and impede their growth after divorce. Results revealed that more than half of women and a few of men have custody of children after divorce; however, fight over custody of children is another major cause of delayed adjustment. Results presented that gender significantly influences women's intensity of post-divorce adjustment constraints.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, it is concluded that regardless of gender, ongoing conflicts with ex-spouses or in-laws made the post-divorce adjustment of divorcees difficult. Divorcees are in a constant tug-of-war between fighting internal dilemmas, pursuing individualistic ideals, and fulfilling societal norms, values, and expectations. This battle complicates and prolongs their adjustments after divorce. The study suggests that institutional, psychosocial, and family support is critical to proactively relieve divorcees from resources and their children.

Impact of emotional divorce on the mental health of married women in Saudi Arabia

Emotional divorce occurs when physical, psychological, mental, and spiritual separation occurs between spouses despite the fact that they live in the same house and exercise their marital duties. Emotional divorce has adverse effects on the mental health of those involved, as evidenced by the higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among such couples. Saudi women are particularly vulnerable to emotional divorce owing to social, legal, economic, and cultural factors. Therefore, it is important to examine the relationship between emotional divorce and mental health issues (depression, anxiety, and loneliness) in married women in Saudi Arabia. Using scales that assess emotional divorce, depression, anxiety, and loneliness, data were collected from 241 married Saudi women (Mage = 34.41 years; SDage = 5.23 years). Findings revealed a statistically significant correlation between emotional divorce, depression, anxiety, and loneliness. One-way ANOVA confirmed that those with high levels of emotional divorce concurrently scores higher on the depression, anxiety, and loneliness tools, followed by those with moderate and low emotional divorce scores, respectively. Linear regression analysis indicated that depression, anxiety, and loneliness were strong predictors of emotional divorce, explaining 61% of the variance in the emotional divorce scores in this sample. These findings highlight the need to focus on the mental health outcomes of individuals experiencing emotional divorce, especially in societies where legal divorce may not be acceptable or encouraged. The need for regular evaluation and timely interventions for individuals struggling with mental health problems, and for restoring a healthy marital relationship is also highlighted.

The assessment of the related factors of emotional divorce among Iranian people during the Covid-19 pandemic: a descriptive study

BACKGROUND

When a couple experiences emotional divorce, it can lead to boredom, a decrease in their connection, feelings of sadness and despair, and reduced reliance on one another. These consequences can have a lasting impact on the entire family. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the affecting related factors of emotional divorce among Iranian people during the Covid19 pandemic.

METHODS

A descriptive-analytical study was performed on 900 men and women from 22 districts of Tehran who were selected by the available sampling methods from March to October 2021. Data collection tools are Guttmann demographic and Emotional Divorce Questionnaires. The Questionnaires were completed by the participants of the study. R 4.0.2 software was used to analyze the data, in addition, an independent t-test and chi-square were used to compare the subjects in terms of emotional divorce. Also, the multiple logistic regression method was used to determine the independent factors affecting emotional divorce.

RESULTS

The results showed that the related factors of emotional divorce include age, marriage rank, and duration of the marriage, choosing the spouse by parents, the education level of the couple, the job of the couple, infection of Covid19, and having disputes before Covid19 infection outbreak.

CONCLUSION

Emotional divorce is considered as a social harm which could be the prelude to legal divorce. Therefore, studying affecting factors in any society can pave the way for culture-based interventions to reduce such social harms.

Marital status over 28 years of parents of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities

Longitudinal, prospective analyses of marital status in parents of individuals with autism are needed to better understand the types and timing of supports needed to mitigate the impact of divorce on the family. We describe the timing of divorce and the factors that contribute to divorce in a longitudinal sample of families of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Participants included parents of 219 children initially referred for autism and other developmental delays followed to age 30 years. Approximately 36% of individuals in our sample experienced a parental divorce by age 30. Higher rates of divorce were associated with lower maternal education and families of color and moderately associated with younger maternal age at child's birth, autism symptom severity, and ASD diagnosis. Divorces were most common in children's early years (under age 5) and also in the teenage years and beyond (over age 15). After age 15, higher risk was associated with the child's higher cognitive ability and daily living skills, and being a multiplex family. Results suggest that divorce risk in families of children with autism remains high through childhood into early adulthood. Understanding factors related to changes in marital status may help support families across time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Marital status and gambling disorder: a longitudinal study based on national registry data

BACKGROUND

Marital status is a robust correlate of disordered gambling, but few studies have examined the direction of this association.

METHODS

The present study used a case-control design by including all adults receiving their first gambling disorder (GD) diagnosis between January 2008 to December 2018 (Norwegian Patient Registry, n = 5,121) and compared them against age and gender matched individuals with other somatic/psychiatric illnesses (Norwegian Patient Registry, n = 27,826) and a random sample from the general population (FD-Trygd database, n = 26,695). The study examined marital status before GD, getting divorced as a risk factor for future GD, and becoming married as a protective factor of future GD.

RESULTS

The findings indicated an 8-9 percentage points higher prevalence of unmarried people and about a 5 percentage points higher prevalence of separation/divorce among those that subsequently experienced GD compared to controls. Logistic regressions showed that transition through divorce was associated with higher odds of future GD compared to illness controls (odds ratio [OR] = 2.45, 95% CI [2.06, 2.92]) and the general population (OR = 2.41 [2.02, 2.87]). Logistic regressions also showed that transition through marriage was associated with lower odds of future GD compared to illness controls (OR = 0.62, CI [0.55, 0.70]) and the general population (OR = 0.57, CI [0.50, 0.64]).

CONCLUSIONS

Social bonds have previously been shown to impact physical and mental health, and the findings of the study emphasize the importance of considering social network history and previous relationship dissolution among individuals with GD.

Partnership trajectories and their consequences over the life course. Evidence from the German LifE Study

OBJECTIVE

Following a life course perspective, this study examines the link between partnership trajectories and three dimensions of psychological well-being: psychological health, overall sense of self-worth and quality of life.

BACKGROUND

Assuming that life outcomes are the result of prior decisions, experiences and events, partnership histories can be seen as a resource for psychological well-being. Furthermore, advantages or disadvantages from living with or without a partner should accumulate over time. While previous cross-sectional research has mainly focused on the influence of partnership status or a status change on well-being, prior longitudinal studies could not control for reverse causality of well-being and partnership trajectories. This research addresses the question of how different patterns of partnership biographies are related to a person's well-being in middle adulthood. Selection effects of pre-trajectory well-being as well as current life conditions are also taken into account.

METHOD

Using data from the German LifE Study, the partnership trajectories between ages of 16 and 45 are classified by sequence and cluster analysis. OLS regression is then used to examine the link between types of partnership trajectories and depression, self-esteem and overall life satisfaction at age 45.

RESULTS

For women, well-being declined when experiencing unstable non-cohabitational union trajectories or divorce followed by unpartnered post-marital trajectories. Men suffered most from being long-term single. The results could not be explained by selection effects of pre-trajectory well-being.

CONCLUSION

While women seem to 'recover' from most of the negative effects of unstable partnership trajectories through a new partnership, for men it was shown that being mainly unpartnered has long-lasting effects on their psychological well-being.

The efficacy of postdivorce intervention programs for children: A meta-analytical review

Preventive postdivorce interventions aim to help children cope with divorce and promote their adjustment. Nevertheless, questions remain regarding the concrete outcomes of these interventions and the intervention characteristics that influence them. This meta-analysis of 30 studies analyzes the efficacy of postdivorce interventions on children's symptomatology, personal resources, and adaptation to divorce. Likewise, it explores whether the intervention impacts the putative mediators from the family context and whether the characteristics of the studies themselves also influence the results. Using a data set of N = 4344 individuals, 258 effect sizes were calculated. Random effects analyses evidenced the impact of the interventions on specific variables instead of on children's global adjustment. There were no significant effects on children's mental health outcomes, and none of these effects were qualified by the moderators that were examined. Preventive postdivorce interventions had significant effects, specifically on children's divorce adjustment and self-esteem. The study of the moderators found that the interventions were generally homogeneous, and only one of the 20 moderators examined had a significant effect. Based on children's age, the interventions had an impact on family functioning only when they involved younger children, but this result should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample of studies. This meta-analysis provides evidence of the relevance of postdivorce interventions to critical variables as well as information about the role of the intervention characteristics in the effects and makes suggestions for future research on divorce interventions that encompass both practical and empirical developments.

Posttraumatic Growth and Subjective Well-Being in Men and Women after Divorce: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of Self-Esteem

Prior research has mainly examined non-adaptive responses to divorce, with less attention being paid to positive changes following the adversity of marital dissolution, especially posttraumatic growth and its consequences. The aim of this paper was to analyse the relationship between posttraumatic growth and subjective well-being, as well as the mediating and moderating role of self-esteem in this relationship among divorced men and women. The sample consisted of 209 divorcees (143 females, 66 males) aged 23-80 (M = 41.97, SD = 10.72). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) were used in the study. Positive associations between overall posttraumatic growth, specific growth dimensions, subjective well-being and self-esteem were found. Self-esteem was confirmed as a mediator in the relationships between changes in perception of self and subjective well-being (SWB), between changes in relating to others and SWB and between appreciation for life and SWB. Self-esteem moderated the association between spiritual changes and subjective well-being; namely, changes in spirituality were positively related to happiness in individuals with lower and average self-esteem but not with high self-esteem. We found no differences between women and men in the obtained results. Self-esteem might be considered a possible psychological (mediating rather than moderating) mechanism in the transmission of PTG onto SWB in divorcees, regardless of their gender.

Joint physical custody and academic achievement among youth: A population-based study with registry linkage

Previous research has documented that youth in joint physical custody (JPC) often report fewer mental health problems than peers in other postseparation living arrangements. Whether JPC is associated with functional outcomes such as academic achievement has been less examined, and existing work has relied on self-reported school grades and pertinent controls such as parental education. Using data from the Norwegian population-based youth@hordaland study (n = 7,914), we examined the association between living arrangements and academic achievement among youth (16-19 years) using register-based information on grade point average (GPA; range: 1-6), parental education, and income. We also assessed the influence of family cohesion and coresiding biological and half/stepsiblings in explaining differences between youth in JPC and other living arrangements. Across all regression models, youth in JPC had significantly higher GPA (0.2-0.4 points) than youth living with a single mother or father. Parental education had a strong attenuating effect and reduced the magnitude of the difference with 30%-35% for youth in single-parent families and 55% for youth in stepparent families. In conclusion, we find that youth in JPC have a small but significant academic advantage compared to peers in single-parent families, which is not fully accounted for by objective measures of parental education and income, sibling composition, and family cohesion. Future longitudinal studies are needed to disentangle whether positive outcomes associated with JPC are due to inherent qualities of this living arrangement or better captured by preseparation selection mechanisms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The Case for Multidimensional Co-Parenting Behaviors as Sources of Chronic Stress: Understanding Pathways to Mental Health Symptomology Among Divorced and Separating Adults

The co-parenting relationship matters for postdivorce parental adjustment. This study explores the relative impact of different forms of co-parenting behaviors, coupled with an individual's psychological resources, in explaining parent mental health in recently divorced or separated parents (n = 355). A latent variable structural equation model was fit to examine pathways between dimensions of co-parenting (support, overt conflict, self-controlled covert conflict, and externally controlled covert conflict), various psychological resources (satisfaction with the divorce decree, perceived competence of the co-parent, and self-efficacy), and adverse mental health symptomology. Significant direct pathways were identified between overt co-parenting conflict and adverse mental health. Indicators of co-parenting quality were tied differentially to various resources. Indirect effects were found for both self-controlled covert conflict and overt conflict on adverse mental health symptomology through self-efficacy. Leverage points and considerations for health professionals and practitioners working with divorcing parents are discussed.

Triangulation and child adjustment after parental divorce: Underlying mechanisms and risk factors

Parental triangulation is a particular risk to healthy child adjustment after divorce. However, detailed knowledge is lacking on how triangulation predicts child adjustment, and whether some children are more vulnerable to triangulation's effects. Therefore, the present study used a sample of 135 children (M_age = 11.76) and 130 parents from 77 recently divorced families to identify whether intrapersonal processes (loyalty conflicts, self-blame, and self-esteem) underlie the link between postdivorce triangulation and child adjustment over a period of 2 years. We also explored whether these direct and indirect effects were dependent on children's environmental sensitivity and empathy. By means of path analysis in MPlus, the mediation analyses indicated that more triangulation was only indirectly associated with a relative increase in children's internalizing problems, via experiencing more loyalty conflicts and lower self-esteem. Loyalty conflicts also explained the link between triangulation and children's externalizing problems. Yet, there were no indirect effects via children's self-blame attributions. Second, moderation analyses revealed that the effect of triangulation was dependent on children's level of empathy, but not sensitivity. Children scoring high on empathy showed a stronger association between triangulation and child-reported adjustment problems, both directly and indirectly via loyalty conflicts and self-esteem. There were hardly any significant effects for parent-reported child adjustment. Overall, the present study calls for more awareness on the adversity of postdivorce triangulation for children, its working mechanisms, and the factors that make children more vulnerable to its detrimental effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Parental Divorce Process and Post-Divorce Parental Behaviors and Strategies: Examining Emerging Adult Children's Attachment-Related Anxiety and Avoidance

The main goal of this study was to examine the role of parental behaviors during both the process of divorce and the post-divorce period on emerging adult children's attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Specifically, we analyzed how recalled coparental respect and cooperation, interparental conflict, positive parenting strategies, and both parents' emotional state and instability from adult children's perspective during the divorce process and the post-divorce period were associated with emerging adult children's current attachment representations. Our sample consisted of 173 emerging adults (Mage = 22.01). The results of this study demonstrate that paternal coparental respect and cooperation along with freedom provided by the mother to talk about the father during the divorce process and post-divorce period were both related to lower attachment-related avoidance. Our findings also confirm a significant link between some paternal positive attitudes during the divorce process (i.e., freedom provided by the father to talk about the mother) and low attachment-related anxiety. Overall, the results of this research confirm that beyond divorce perse, several variables surrounding the divorce process better explain variations in adult children's attachment representations, which contribute to better comprehending the effects of parental divorce.

Developmental psychology and the scientific status of parental alienation

Theory and research have described developmental processes leading to damaged parent-child relationships, such as those that occur during a divorce. However, scholars dispute the scientific status of the literature on children who form unhealthy alliances with one parent against the other-termed parental alienation (PA). This comprehensive literature review tests competing descriptions of the PA literature. Accessing four electronic databases, we identified 213 documents with empirical data on PA published in 10 languages through December 2020. The results confirmed that the current state of PA scholarship meets three criteria of a maturing field of scientific inquiry: an expanding literature, a shift toward quantitative studies, and a growing body of research that tests theory-generated hypotheses. Nearly 40% of the PA literature has been published since 2016, establishing that PA research has moved beyond an early stage of scientific development and has produced a scientifically trustworthy knowledge base. This literature review documents the value of multiple research methodologies to this knowledge base. In addition, the growing body of research described in this review enhances our understanding of the association between interparental conflict and the breakdown of parent-child relationships in families where conflict differentially affects children's relationship with and behavior toward each parent. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Alcohol use disorder, psychiatric comorbidities, marriage and divorce in a high-risk sample

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations between alcohol use disorder (AUD), its psychiatric comorbidities, and their interactions, with marital outcomes in a diverse high-risk, genetically informative sample.

METHOD

Participants included European ancestry (EA; n = 4,045) and African ancestry (AA; n = 1,550) individuals from the multigenerational Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) sample (56% female, Mage ∼ 41 years). Outcomes were lifetime marriage and divorce. Predictors included lifetime AUD, an alcohol problems polygenic score (PRS), and AUD comorbidities, including conduct or antisocial personality disorder (ASP), cannabis dependence/abuse (CAN), frequent tobacco use (TOB), and major depressive disorder (MDD). Mixed effect Cox models and generalized linear mixed effects models were fit.

RESULTS

Among EA participants, those with AUD and CAN were less likely to marry (hazard ratios [HRs] 0.70-0.83, ps < 0.01). Among AA participants, those with AUD and TOB were less likely to marry (HRs 0.66-0.82, ps < 0.05) and those with MDD were more likely to marry (HR = 1.34, ps < 0.01). Among EA participants, AUD, CAN, TOB, and MDD were associated with higher odds of divorce (odds ratios [ORs] 1.59-2.21, ps < 0.01). Among AA participants, no predictors were significantly associated with divorce. Significant random effects indicated genetic and environmental influences on marriage, but only environmental factors on divorce.

CONCLUSIONS

In a high-risk sample, AUD was associated with reduced likelihood of marriage in EA and AA individuals and increased risk of divorce in EA individuals. These associations were largely independent of comorbidities. Genetic and environmental background factors contributed to marriage, while only environmental background factors contributed to divorce. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

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

BACKGROUND

Alcohol 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.

METHODS

The 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.

RESULTS

Path 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.

CONCLUSIONS

In 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.

The effects of parental divorce on children

Family is very important for development of children. Divorce is a life event with a high level of stress for the entire family. Children are dependent on parents and disadvantaged during divorce because it is out of their control.1 Herein, we present our observations about children whose parents separated or divorced to increase the awareness of physicians about the negative effects of divorce. Individuals affected by parental divorce have a higher risk of developing a variety of mental health conditions including emotional and behavioral disorders, poor school performance, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, distress, smoking and substance abuse.2,3 Externalizing problems in girls precede and predict later parental divorce. Post-divorce problems in children vary by raters, and may depend on the time lapse since divorce.4 Lansford et al 5 noted that early parental divorce/separation is more negatively related to trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems than is later divorce/separation, whereas later divorce/separation is more negatively related to grades. In another study, divorce in parents was significantly associated with higher alcohol use disorder, higher cigarette dependence and higher water pipe dependence in adolescents.6 In the study of Tullius et al 7 the levels of both internalizing and externalizing problems were significantly higher in the period after parental divorce, but not in the period before divorce, with a persistent and increasing effect over the follow-up periods compared to adolescents not experiencing divorce. Zeratsion et al 8 reported that parental divorce in late adolescence does not lead to mental health problems, as has been shown before, while such problems may prevail among young adolescents. This does not mean that parental divorce creates less problems in late adolescence than before but these youths might have developed adjustment abilities against health effects as divorce have turned to be more common. In our clinical practice, we have also observed various emotional, behavioral, psychosomatic, and conversion disorders in children, particularly in preadolescents and adolescents, before and/or after a separation or divorce of parents. Children often lack information and skills to overcome the challenges that the divorce carries. Conflicting relationships between parents make up the biggest obstacle that makes it difficult for a child to successfully deal with changes in the family. Even though parents deal with heavy feelings, it is desirable to put them the child and his interests in the first place. In order to stabilize the family system, 2 to 4 years are usually needed.1 Physicians can assist families by providing support and advice, and advocating for children within systems that serve separating families. Physicians can provide information so that individuals who work with such children recognize, and are sensitive to, their individual needs, and provide supportive and nurturing experiences for the children in schools, camps and sporting activities. These efforts will promote better mental health outcomes for children affected by their parents' separation.9 The most important way to minimize emotional harm to children involved in a separation and divorce is to ensure that children maintain a close and secure relationship with both parents, unless there is spousal or child abuse or neglect, or parental substance abuse.9 Age-appropriate explanation and counseling for the child and advice and guidance for the parents, as well as recommendation of reading material, may help reduce the potential negative effects of divorce. Often, referral to professionals with expertise in the social, emotional, and legal aspects of the separation and its aftermath may be helpful for these families.10 An example of paragraph from a reading material for parents is as follows: The most comprehensive centre of man's worldly life, and its mainspring, and a paradise, refuge, and fortress of worldly happiness, is the life of the family. Everyone's home is a small world for him/her. And the life and happiness of his/her home and family are possible through genuine, earnest, and loyal respect and true, tender, and self-sacrificing compassion. This true respect and genuine kindness may be achieved with the idea of the members of the family having an everlasting companionship and friendship and togetherness, and their parental, filial, brotherly, and friendly relations continuing for all eternity in a limitless life, and their believing this.11 In conclusion, we would like emphasize that various psychosocial, psychosomatic and conversion disorders may be seen in children affected by parental divorce. Physicians interested in child health can notice parents' separation problems during evaluation of children. Referral to professionals with expertise in separation may be helpful for conflicting parents.

Iranian Women's Divorce Style: A Qualitative Study

Divorce has received scant attention in Iran, despite the problems that arise for individuals and families and in social life. The present study aimed to find the divorce process of the Iranian couples among whom the woman was the divorce initiator. For this purpose, interviews were conducted, using the grounded theory method, with 34 Iranian divorcing men and women (women initiating a divorce and their spouses) to investigate their divorce experience. The results revealed that the psychological, communication, cultural, and social factors involved in the divorce phenomenon were observed in five stages: (1) emergence of thinking about divorce, (2) hesitation on stay, (3) difficult decision-making, (4) separation, and (5) legal action. Despite more restrictive laws and more complicated social conditions for women initiating divorce than men, the number of women initiating the divorce is increasing in the changing cultural context of Iran. Therefore, we hope that our results on the divorce process help couples, families, and especially professionals plan preventive measures and develop clinical interventions targeting marriage and marital relationships.

Prior On-Off Relationship Instability and Distress in the Separation and Divorce Transition

Divorce is considered distressing for many individuals (Sbarra et al., Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2015, 24, 109); however, individuals in poor-quality relationships may experience certain benefits of leaving an unstable union (Amato & Hohmann-Marriott, Journal of Marriage and Family, 2007, 69, 621). On-off relationship cycling, or the breakup and reconciliation of a relationship, is a salient indicator of poor relationship quality and a common form of relationship instability (Dailey et al., Personal Relationships, 2009, 16, 23) that is associated with distress (Monk et al., Family Relations, 2018, 67, 523). In line with divorce-stress-adjustment and relational turbulence theory perspectives, we hypothesized that those whose relationships were characterized by on-off instability would experience less distress during the separation and divorce process. Given gender inequality in marriage (e.g., Dempsey, Journal of Sociology, 2002, 38, 91; Monin & Clark, Sex Roles, 2011, 65, 320), we also hypothesized that this association would be more pronounced for women. Using data from 98 divorced or separating couples, we found that relationship cycling prior to the separation and divorce process was associated with fewer distress symptoms for women. Conversely, a history of relationship cycling was associated with more distress symptoms for men. Our study provides support and extends prior investigations illustrating that, for some, those in unions characterized by more turmoil, may experience relief following a termination.

The Roles of Gray Divorce and Subsequent Repartnering for Parent-Adult Child Relationships

OBJECTIVES

Divorce is now widespread in later life, yet little is known about how older adults and their adult children respond in the aftermath of gray divorce. Guided by the life course perspective, this study examines the consequences of gray divorce and subsequent repartnering for parent-adult child relationships from the parent's perspective.

METHODS

Using longitudinal data from the 1998-2014 Health and Retirement Study in the United States, we estimated growth curve models to compare fathers' and mothers' frequent contact with and financial support to their adult children prior to, during, and following gray divorce.

RESULTS

Gray divorce and repartnering had disparate effects on father- versus mother-adult child relationships. Following a divorce, fathers' frequent contact with their adult children decreased but financial support to their adult children increased. Fathers' repartnering had an enduring negative effect on frequent contact with their children. Gray divorce did not alter mothers' financial support to adult children and it actually increased interaction between mothers and adult children as the odds of frequent contact doubled upon divorce. Repartnering had no appreciable effects on mothers' relationships with their adult children.

DISCUSSION

The results of our study are consistent with prior research showing that divorce creates a matrifocal tilt in our kinship system. The shifting dynamics of parent-adult child relationships in response to gray divorce and repartnering raise questions about whether gray-divorced parents will be able to rely on their adult children for care as they age.

Generational differences in loneliness and its psychological and sociodemographic predictors: an exploratory and confirmatory machine learning study

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is a growing public health issue in the developed world. Among older adults, loneliness is a particular challenge, as the older segment of the population is growing and loneliness is comorbid with many mental as well as physical health issues. Comorbidity and common cause factors make identifying the antecedents of loneliness difficult, however, contemporary machine learning techniques are positioned to tackle this problem.

METHODS

This study analyzed four cohorts of older individuals, split into two age groups - 45-69 and 70-79 - to examine which common psychological and sociodemographic are associated with loneliness at different ages. Gradient boosted modeling, a machine learning technique, and regression models were used to identify and replicate associations with loneliness.

RESULTS

In all cohorts, higher emotional stability was associated with lower loneliness. In the older group, social circumstances such as living alone were also associated with higher loneliness. In the younger group, extraversion's association with lower loneliness was the only other confirmed relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Different individual and social factors might underlie loneliness differences in distinct age groups. Machine learning methods have the potential to unveil novel associations between psychological and social variables, particularly interactions, and mental health outcomes.

Same-Sex Sexuality and the Risk of Divorce: Findings from Two National Studies

Despite symbolic linkages between heterosexuality and marriage, and a pervasive heteronormative ideology of romantic love, little population-representative research examines whether same-sex sexuality - desire/attraction, behavior, and gay, lesbian, or bisexual identity - increases the likelihood of divorce from an different-sex spouse. We examine this association using data from the 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey and the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth. In both sub-studies, multivariate logistic regression analyses indicate that same-sex sexuality reduces the odds of ever marrying. However, among the once-married, same-sex desire/attraction, sexual behavior, and gay, lesbian, or bisexual identity respectively increase the odds of different-sex divorce net of demographic and early-life factors. Same-sex sexuality puts a brake on divorce by preventing some different-sex marriages that would ultimately end in divorce, but is associated with an increase risk of different-sex divorce among once-married individuals.

Association of Youth Age at Exposure to Household Dysfunction With Outcomes in Early Adulthood

IMPORTANCE

The current focus on the association of negative experiences in early childhood with adverse outcomes later in life is based on limited empirical evidence.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether age at exposure to negative experiences in childhood and adolescence is associated with outcomes in early adulthood.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study used population data from administrative sources for all Danish individuals born between 1987 and 1995 who were living in Denmark at 19 years of age. Data were analyzed in July 2020.

EXPOSURES

Exposure to 6 household dysfunction items (HDIs) from birth to 17 years of age by age group. Age groups were as follows: 0 to 2 years (early childhood), 3 to 5 years (preschool), 6 to 12 years (mid-childhood), and 13 to 17 years (early adolescence). The 6 items were parents' unemployment, incarceration, mental disorders, death, and divorce and the child's foster care experiences.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Mental disorders, low educational attainment, disconnection from education and the labor market, and criminal charges. A fixed-effects model was used to estimate the dose-response and age-specific associations between HDI exposure and the collated outcome measure.

RESULTS

The study sample included 605 344 individuals observed from birth to 19 years of age (mean [SD] birth year, 1991 [2.56] years; range, 1987-1995; 335 725 [55%] male). Overall, 278 115 individuals (45.94%) were exposed to 1 or more of the 6 HDIs from birth to 17 years of age. Exposure was most prevalent at 1 year of age (exposure rate, 11.3%), and parental unemployment was the most common HDI (15.5% observed in mid-childhood). The risk of experiencing the 4 outcomes was monotonically associated with the number of HDIs. For example, experiencing 1 HDI between birth and 17 years of age was associated with an increased risk of experiencing an adverse outcome by approximately 1.0 percentage point (β = 0.011; 95% CI, 0.010-0.012; P < .001). Similarly, the risk of experiencing adverse outcomes varied significantly in association with age at exposure. Exposure during early adolescence was more strongly associated with adverse outcomes than was exposure during early childhood (increased risk of 5.8 percentage points [β = 0.058; 95% CI, 0.052-0.063; P < .001] vs 1.0 [β = 0.010; 95% CI, 0.004-0.015; P = .001]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cohort study, exposure to negative experiences in early adolescence was more strongly associated with later adverse outcomes than was exposure at other points in childhood. Knowledge of age-specific associations is important information for policy makers who need to prioritize resources targeting disadvantaged children and youths.

The impact of discernment counseling on individuals who decide to divorce: experiences of post-divorce communication and coparenting

Discernment counseling is designed to help couples considering divorce arrive at a greater sense of clarity and confidence in their decision making about the future of their marriage. Possible outcomes include making no change to the marriage, divorcing, or attempting reconciliation through couples therapy. To date, no research has been done on whether or not discernment counseling helps couples who decide to divorce with their post-divorce family life (i.e., coparenting). We surveyed 11 people (from male-female couples) and conducted in-depth interviews with eight who had undergone discernment counseling and subsequently divorced to see what impact discernment counseling had on their post-divorce coparenting relationship. We analyzed the data from a phenomenological perspective. Respondents described their discernment counseling experience as helpful for achieving clarity and honesty in the divorce decision-making process, they shared their appreciation for the structure of the intervention, and indicated that it led to a greater coparental cooperation post-divorce.

Marital separation and contact with primary healthcare services for mental health problems: a register-based study

BACKGROUND

Marital separation is associated with mental health problems, but little is known about how this translates into healthcare use. In this study, we examine the relationship between marital separation and primary healthcare use for mental health problems.

METHODS

We used data covering the period from 2005 to 2015 from the Norwegian Population Register, Statistics Norway's Educational Registration System and the Norwegian Health Economics Database. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. To control for time invariant characteristics, we estimated fixed-effect models.

RESULTS

Marital separation was associated with increased contact with primary healthcare services for mental health problems (MH-consultations). The prevalence of MH-consultations peaked during the year of marital separation. MH-consultations were more common following marital separation than prior to the separation. This pattern remained significant in the fixed-effect models.

CONCLUSIONS

Men and women who experienced marital separation were more likely to consult primary healthcare services for mental health problems than those who remained married. Our study suggests that several mechanisms are in play. The prevalence of MH-consultations of those who eventually separated were higher several years prior to the separation. This lends support to selection mechanisms, whereas the sharp rise in the prevalence of MH-consultations around the time of marital separation coupled to higher levels several years after separation, indicate that marital separation induces both transient stress and leads to more lasting strain.

Children and Divorce

Divorce is a life event with a high level of stress for the entire family. Research shows that the number of divorces is on a steady rise. Family is very important for development of the children and changes within the family, after the divorce, could make consequences on them. Children are dependent on parents and disadvantaged during divorce because it is out of their control. They cannot predict how long will it take and what will be the outcome of divorce which includes separation from close family members, school change, change of home, change of life style and so on. Children often lack information and skills to overcome the challenges that the divorce carries. Conflicting relationships between parents make up the biggest obstacle that makes it difficult for a child to successfully deal with changes in the family. Even though parents deal with heavy feelings, it is desirable to put them the child and his interests in the first place. In order to stabilize the family system it is needed 2 up to 4 years. Children differ from one another in the reactions to the divorce, but there are some emotional reactions that are characteristic for most children of divorced parents, and the most often children reactions are of depressive symptoms, anxiety, anger, lower self-esteem and so on. The emotional reactions of children during the divorce can vary relative to the gender and age of the child. However, the divorce of a parent does not necessarily have to be so negative for children, especially if parents behave in an adequate way and they endeavor to act in such a way to make this process as painless as possible for children.

Parental involvement in youth and closeness to parents during adulthood: Stepparents and biological parents

We examined a possible predictor of (step)parent-adult child closeness in adulthood, namely, the frequency of parental involvement in different child-rearing tasks during youth. We expected that although involvement in children's lives would be important for the strength of all intergenerational ties, it would be particularly important for stepparents' closeness with their adult stepchildren. We used the Parents and Children in The Netherlands survey to test our hypotheses. Our analytical sample consisted of the reports of adults (25-45 years old; n = 5,107) about how frequently different types of parents engaged with them in activities related to school, leisure, and personal communication (including reports about 1,361 stepmothers and 1,489 stepfathers). Our results clearly demonstrate that an increase in the frequency of performing a task was associated with more closeness during adulthood, but this effect was significantly stronger in stepparent-child compared to biological parent-child ties. We interpret this finding as stepparents having to "earn" or more explicitly demonstrate their desire for closeness to stepchildren. An interesting gender difference emerged in the position of divorced biological parents, with adult children's closeness to divorced biological fathers also being more contingent on parental involvement, whereas that was not unequivocally the case for divorced biological mothers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Relationship Quality Among Older Cohabitors: A Comparison to Remarrieds

OBJECTIVES

Later life marital patterns have undergone shifts over the past few decades, including a rapid growth of cohabiting unions. Despite the increase in older adult cohabitation, research on this population has been slow to keep up. Intimate relationships are linked to well-being and relationship quality is especially important because high-quality relationships offer a number of benefits for well-being, whereas poor-quality relationships often are detrimental. This study compares cohabiting and remarried individuals on two measures of relationship quality.

METHOD

Using data from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study, I investigate the positive and negative relationship quality of cohabitors relative to their remarried counterparts and whether the association of union type and relationship quality varies by race.

RESULTS

Across both positive and negative relationship quality, I found few differences between cohabiting and remarried individuals. Black cohabitors report higher positive relationship quality than remarrieds, whereas White cohabitors and remarrieds do not differ.

DISCUSSION

These findings suggest that cohabiting unions and remarriages are comparable among White older adults, but that Black cohabitors may gain more in terms of positive relationship quality than their remarried counterparts.

The Challenges of COVID-19 for Divorcing and Post-divorce Families

COVID-19 and the accompanying procedures of shelter-in-place have had a powerful effect on all families but have additional special meanings in the context of families contemplating divorce, divorcing, or carrying out postdivorce arrangements. This paper explores those special meanings for these families. It also offers suggestions for couple and family therapists involved in helping these families during the time of COVID-19.

The Challenges of COVID-19 for Divorcing and Post-divorce Families

COVID-19 and the accompanying procedures of shelter-in-place have had a powerful effect on all families but have additional special meanings in the context of families contemplating divorce, divorcing, or carrying out postdivorce arrangements. This paper explores those special meanings for these families. It also offers suggestions for couple and family therapists involved in helping these families during the time of COVID-19.

Extramarital Sex and Marital Dissolution: Does Identity of the Extramarital Partner Matter?

Panel data from married adults (N = 1,853) in the General Social Survey, a probability sample of the adult household population of the United States, were used to evaluate (a) the longitudinal association between extramarital sex and marital dissolution 2 years later, (b) whether probability of marital dissolution differed as a function of the type of relationship people reported having with their extramarital sex partner, and (c) the degree to which these associations were incremental to participants' level of marital satisfaction at baseline. Compared to people who reported not engaging in extramarital sex, those who reported engaging in extramarital sex at baseline were significantly more likely to be separated or divorced 2 years later. Furthermore, the association between having extramarital sex with a close personal friend and marital dissolution was particularly strong. These associations remained statistically significant after adjusting for marital satisfaction. Results suggest that the identity of the extramarital sex partner and the type of relationship a person has with him or her has important implications for probability of marital dissolution above and beyond the contribution of marital satisfaction.

Randomized controlled trial study of the effects of an online divorce platform on anxiety, depression, and somatization

Divorce is associated with a range of negative psychological consequences, including increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatization. The current study presents the results of a 1-year longitudinal randomized controlled trial study of the Cooperation After Divorce online intervention platform for adults going through a divorce. Participants included 1,856 Danish divorcees who, on average, began the intervention within 1 week of legal divorce and responded to the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised anxiety, depression, and somatization subscales at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months after juridical divorce. Data analyses consisted of linear mixed-effect model analyses, mean group comparisons, and 1-sample t tests to compare the 12-month follow-up with national normative data. The study found that the intervention platform significantly reduced anxious, depressive, and somatization symptoms among divorcees in the intervention group over a 1-year period and that the magnitude of these effects was large in effect size (Cohen's d > .78). Further, it was found that at 1 year after divorce, symptom levels of all 3 outcomes were close to the population norms for participants in the intervention group but still considerably elevated for participants in the control group. The findings suggest that online intervention platforms may be effective in reducing adverse mental health related effects of divorce and thereby offer long-term human and public health benefits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

How Has Cultural Heterosexism Affected Thinking about Divorce? Asymmetric Framing of Same-Gender and Mixed-Gender Divorces in News Media and in Minds

Herek's notion of cultural heterosexism describes an ideology that works implicitly through language, and leads non-heterosexuals to be framed as "others." National statistics in many countries indicate group differences between same-gender and mixed-gender couples in divorce rates, and we used media accounts and individual interpretation of group differences in divorce to operationalize it here. We found qualified support for three hypotheses in two studies. In Study 1, analysis of 412 English-language news articles on divorce indicated that comparative statements overwhelmingly positioned same-gender couples as figure and mixed-gender couples as ground. In Study 2, 88 participants read about how same-gender couples differed from mixed-gender couples, or about how mixed-gender couples differed from same-gender couples in their reasons for dissolving relationships. Results indicated that participants showed higher perceived legitimacy of inequality, higher sexual prejudice, and higher estimates of global divorce rates in the former conditions. Analysis of participants' explanations of group differences in divorce rates indicated that they spontaneously contrasted mixed-gender couples against same-gender couples more of the time. As the media discourse focused on male couples (Study 1) and the effects of linguistic framing was evident only when male couples were described (Study 2), we discuss how these studies, which operationalized and evidenced cultural heterosexism, may point to the emergence of homonormative ideologies that recognized gay men more than lesbians in twenty-first century politics.

The Lived Experience of Ambiguous Marital Separation: A Phenomenological Study

Researchers have long treated marital separation as a linear transition that inevitably leads to divorce. Popular sources suggest that some couples separate without clarity about how the separation will end, often to assess whether to divorce or stay married. However, to date, we could not locate any empirical research on this kind of ambiguous separation. With a sample of 20 currently separated persons from around the United States, this study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological design to inquire about the experience of separating from one's spouse when the separation was initiated without clarity about how it would end. Six essential themes emerged: (a) our relationship feels ambiguous, (b) separation is a private experience, (c) separation is a lonely experience, (d) benefits to separating, (e) separation is not sustainable, and (f) the outcome is unclear. The article concludes with a discussion of and implications for the study findings.

Premarital parenthood and newlyweds' marital trajectories

An increasing number of couples in the United States are entering their first marriage having already had a child together, raising important questions about whether and how these couples' marriages differ from newlywed couples who enter marriage without children. The current study used 5 waves of data collected over the first 4.5 years of marriage from a sample of ethnically diverse, first-married newlywed couples living with low incomes to examine the effects of premarital parenthood on couples' self-reported satisfaction, observed communication, and marital dissolution over time. Among couples who entered marriage with a shared biological child (premarital parents), satisfaction levels were lower and communication was less effective, less positive, and more negative than couples entering marriage without children. Rates of change in marital functioning did not differ between groups, but the rate of marital dissolution was twice as high among premarital parents (19.1%) relative to couples who were not parents at the start of marriage (9.5%). These between-groups differences remained robust after controlling for several demographic differences (race, age, education, household income, work status, relationship length, premarital cohabitation), and initial differences in communication did not account for between-groups differences in marital satisfaction or dissolution. Together, these findings indicate that newlywed marriage unfolds in similar ways for low-income couples with and without children at the start of marriage, but couples raising children at the time of marriage have greater vulnerability to marital distress and dissolution. Further research is needed to characterize this risk and how interventions can offset it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Divorce and adolescent academic achievement: Heterogeneity in the associations by parental education

Background

The link between parental divorce and adolescents’ academic achievement may depend on parental educational levels. However, findings have been inconsistent regarding whether the negative associations between parental divorce and adolescents’ academic outcomes are greater or smaller in highly educated families. The present study aimed to investigate the possible heterogeneity in the associations between divorce and adolescents’ academic achievement by parental educational levels, within the context of the elaborate Norwegian welfare state.

Methods

The population-based cross-sectional youth@hordaland study of adolescents aged 16–19 years conducted in Norway in 2012, provided information about parental divorce and was linked to national administrative registries (N = 9,166) to obtain high-quality, objective data on the adolescents’ grade point average (GPA), and their parents’ educational qualifications and income.

Results

The negative association between parental divorce and GPA was stronger among adolescents with educated or highly educated parents compared to adolescents with less educated parents. This heterogeneity was driven by maternal educational qualifications, whereby divorce was more strongly and negatively associated with GPA among adolescents with educated mothers compared to those with less educated mothers, independent of paternal educational levels and income measures.

Conclusions

Among adolescents whose parents have low educational qualifications, parental divorce is not associated with their academic achievement. Educated divorced mothers appear less likely to transfer their educational advantages onto their children than nondivorced equally educated mothers, perhaps due to a “double-burden” regarding work pressure and child-rearing responsibilities. There is a need for future studies to detail the mechanisms underlying this finding.

Cambodian Remarried Women Are at Risk for Domestic Violence

Divorce rates continue to rise, especially in urban centers, which in turn contributes to increasing numbers of women who remarry. While remarriage is one of the only options for survival for divorced women, especially those from low socioeconomic status, remarriage also brings with it increased stressors of financial strain and the strain of blended families. This study tested the hypothesis that remarried women compared with first-time married and divorced women are at increased risk for domestic violence. The sample was drawn from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey, consisting of 1,560 women with the average age of 31.64. Results showed that 20% of women reported emotional violence and 14%, physical violence. Based on hierarchical multiple regressions, this study found that remarried women were more likely to experience physical and emotional abuse than women in their first marriage or women who remain divorced/not in union. Further interaction analyses showed that domestic violence varies depending on place of residence, number of children younger than 5 years, partners' education, and wealth index. Rural residents who were in poorest and poorer groups and urban residents in their poorer and middle groups of their wealth index showed high risk of domestic violence. Remarried women with two or three children younger than 5 years showed highest risk of domestic violence. Additional three-way interaction analysis revealed that remarried women residing in rural/urban areas with a spouse having no education and/or primary level of education were at highest risk of domestic violence. The study lends support to the structural role of the power of male dominance on women's social and emotional well-being. This study suggested that to reduce men's perceived domination, structural intervention that includes implementing gender-responsive curriculum in formal education, as well as strengthening domestic violence law enforcement would help reduce domestic violence against women.

Indicators of liberation from gender-based intimate partner violence in Spain related to when charges are dropped

BACKGROUND

While the reasons female victims of gender-based intimate partner violence (GIPV) withdraw from legal proceedings continue to fuel debate, little is known about the heterogeneity of these women regarding the timing of their decision and its connection to liberating themselves from the violent relationship.

METHOD

We used Analyses of Variance and Chi-squared tests to identify variables related to withdrawal from legal proceedings and variables indicating progress in the separation process related to the timing of withdrawal: in the initial or final stages of the legal proceedings. The analyses were performed in a sample of 105 women who had dropped charges. Then, we ran Binary Logistic Regression analyses to predict the risk of withdrawal during the initial stages of proceedings.

RESULTS

Women withdrawing in the initial stages showed more indicators that the ending of the relationship was still incipient. The predictive model included two variables: not expecting protection from the judicial system and not applying for a protection order.

CONCLUSIONS

Detachment from the relationship is essential in the complex decision surrounding withdrawal; professional action is needed that does not jeopardise recovery from GIPV.

Psychosis in children of separated parents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Parental separation is a very common childhood adversity. The association between other adverse childhood experiences and an increased risk of psychosis has been reported. However, the evidence on the risk of psychosis for children of separated parents is limited. In this systematic review, cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies, comparing the risk of psychotic disorders for people with and without separated parents, were searched, critically appraised, and summarized.

METHODS

Studies were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science, from database inception to September 2019. A meta-analysis, using random-effects models, was undertaken to obtain pooled estimates of the risk of psychosis among participants with separated parents.

RESULTS

Twelve studies, with 305,652 participants from 22 countries, were included in the review. A significantly increased risk of psychosis for those with separated parents was observed, with a pooled odds ratio: 1.53 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-1.76), p < 0.001. The association remained significant when cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies were analyzed separately. The five cohort studies included in this review showed and increased risk of psychosis with odds ratio: 1.47 (95% CI: 1.26-1.69), p < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental separation is a common childhood adversity associated with an increased risk of psychosis. Although the risk for an individual child of separated parents is still low, given the high proportion of couple that separate, the increased rates of psychosis may be substantial in the population. Further studies on the risk of psychosis in those with separated parents, and the explanatory factors for this association, are required.

Parenting behaviors, marital discord and the mental health of young females: a cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Divorce is considered a sentinel event influencing the economic, psychosocial and physical health of the family as a whole. Research shows a negative impact of parental marital discord (PMD) on the psychological health and social well-being of children. Only one study from Saudi Arabia has assessed educational and social attainment among young females, and the children were school girls aged 12-16 years.

OBJECTIVES

Explore the relationship between parental marital discord and depression, anxiety, stress, social support and self-esteem of the female child. We also studied the parenting behaviors and their association with the psychosocial health of adolescents.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional questionnaire.

SETTINGS

Women's university in Saudi Arabia.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

REDCap was used for collecting data through email invitations sent to all students at the university. Data on family structure, parental relationship, self-esteem and psycho-social health was collected.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem and social support of the adolescent. Parenting behaviors of both parents were also assessed.

SAMPLE SIZE

296.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) age of participants was 20.5 (2.4) years (median 20.0, IQR 19-22). The frequency of PMD was 24.6% (73/296). Overall, 38% of the students had extra severe anxiety, 26.5% had extra severe depression and 20.5% had extra severe stress on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). The mean self-esteem score was 20.8 (5.5) and social support score was 57 (19.7). Both parents demonstrated low care and high protection trait on the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Among those with PMD, mean (SD) age at discord was 11.4 (6.7) years. Mean (SD) duration of parental marriage was 20.9 (10.7) years and 35% of daughters received no financial help from the father. There was a significant association between PMD and depression, anxiety, stress and poor social support. PMD was associated with low paternal care and high protection trait.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed an alarming burden of mental health problems including depression, anxiety and stress among young Saudi females. Marital discord is prevalent in Saudi Arabia and is significantly related to poor psychosocial health in the child. Parents undergoing marital discord should be educated about healthy parenting styles and their children should be provided with counselling and coping strategies to maintain their emotional and psychological well-being.

LIMITATIONS

Online survey could lead to volunteer bias. Only females are included in the study.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

Coping in context: The effects of long-term relations between interparental conflict and coping on the development of child psychopathology following parental divorce

Exposure to high levels of postdivorce interparental conflict is a well-documented risk factor for the development of psychopathology, and there is strong evidence of a subpopulation of families for which conflict persists for many years after divorce. However, existing studies have not elucidated differential trajectories of conflict within families over time, nor have they assessed the risk posed by conflict trajectories for development of psychopathology or evaluated potential protective effects of children's coping to mitigate such risk. We used growth mixture modeling to identify longitudinal trajectories of child-reported conflict over a period of six to eight years following divorce in a sample of 240 children. We related the trajectories to children's mental health problems, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors and assessed how children's coping prospectively predicted psychopathology in the different conflict trajectories. We identified three distinct trajectories of conflict; youth in two high-conflict trajectories showed deleterious effects on measures of psychopathology at baseline and the six-year follow-up. We found both main effects of coping and coping by conflict trajectory interaction effects in predicting problem outcomes at the six-year follow-up. The study supports the notion that improving youth's general capacity to cope adaptively is a potentially modifiable protective factor for all children facing parental divorce and that children in families with high levels of postdivorce conflict are a particularly appropriate group to target for coping-focused preventive interventions.

"Cementing" marriages through childbearing in subsequent unions: Insights into fertility differentials among first-time married and remarried women in Ghana

Fertility in Ghana has declined steadily since 1980, however, a slight increase was observed between 2008 and 2014. While several factors may account for this pattern, research on the contribution of type of union is limited. This study examined differentials in the fertility of women in different types of union. Secondary data from 6,285 (weighted) ever-married women aged 15-49 years were analysed using compare means, t-test, analysis of variance, Poisson and binary logistic regression analyses. The findings indicate that, independent of other factors, fertility among remarried women is higher compared to first-time married women but this does not hold true when other factors are controlled for. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the fertility of remarried women who were in union and women who were in union in a first-time marriage. However, compared to remarried women who were currently in a union, fertility was significantly lower among remarried women who were not currently in union (β = -0.121, p<0.01) and women who have been married only once but were not currently in union (β = -0.212, p<0.001). Further analysis revealed that remarried women were significantly more likely to desire more children and less likely to use any method of contraception compared to first-time married women. There is the need for further research to better understand the fertility needs of remarried women.

Parenting time, parenting quality, interparental conflict, and mental health problems of children in high-conflict divorce

Despite widespread acknowledgment that "frequent, continuing, and meaningful" (Pruett & DiFonzo, 2014) time with both parents is beneficial for children from divorced or separated families, and that interparental conflict (IPC) is associated with increased child mental health problems, the joint effects of parenting time (PT), parenting quality (PQ), and IPC on children's mental health problems are less clear. The current study integrates two theoretical models in multiple mediator analyses to test indirect effects of mothers' and fathers' PQ and IPC to explain the association between PT and children's mental health problems within the same model. Participants were children aged 9-18 years (N = 141) who had one or both parents participate in a randomized comparative effectiveness trial of a court-based prevention program for high-conflict divorcing or separating families. Data were collected at pretest and 9-month follow-up. Analyses revealed an indirect effect in which fathers' PQ mediated the association between PT and child internalizing problems both concurrently and 9 months later. There were no significant indirect effects involving IPC. Analyses indicated a significant quadratic relation between PT and fathers' PQ, suggesting that although more PT is associated with better father-child relationships, there is a point beyond which more time is not related to a better relationship. We discuss the study findings, research limitations, and implications for public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Love in Action: An Integrative Approach to Last Chance Couple Therapy

This article presents an integrative approach to the special challenges of therapy with couples on the brink of dissolution or divorce-who often describe this therapy as their "last chance." In some, one partner is considering ending the relationship, and in others, both partners are considering ending it. Often, these couples have had prior dissatisfying experiences in couple therapy. Four types of last chance couples are described: high-conflict couples; couples in which partners have differing goals for their lives or different timelines for reaching shared goals; couples in which one or both partners have acted in a manner that violates the values, expectations, emotional comfort, or safety of the other; and couples in which there has been a gradual loss of intimacy. The Therapeutic Palette, a multiperspectival, theoretically eclectic integrative approach, is enlisted as a general framework for selecting and sequencing use of particular theories and their associated practices, based on the three "primary colors" of couple therapy: time frame/focus, level of directiveness, and change entry point. An additional complementary framework, the creative relational movement approach, is proposed to provide an integrative frame encompassing both language-based and action-based practices, suggesting that meaning is held and expressed as much through interaction or "relational motion" as it is through language. Principles of change are described. Due to the couple's level of crisis and desire for immediate evidence of possible improvement, priority is given to action-based interventions in early stages of therapy, by engaging couples in "experiments in possibility." Typical action approaches are described. An extended vignette follows.

Parental autonomy support, grit, and psychological adjustment in Chinese adolescents from divorced families

A large body of research has shown that parental divorce is linked to youths' psychological adjustment in Western societies, but less is known about how this life event may impact on adolescents living in the Chinese cultural context, which highlights losing face and dignity. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between parental autonomy support and psychological adjustment in middle to late adolescents from divorced and intact families in China, postulating moderation by grit. Participants were 210 adolescents (67.1% girls) from divorced families and 420 adolescents (58.6% girls) from intact families, aged between 14 and 18 years, who completed a questionnaire survey. Results indicated that adolescents from divorced families reported more problem behavior and less prosocial behavior than their peers from intact families. In regression analyses, grit moderated the association between parental autonomy support and prosocial behavior. Specifically, gritty adolescents were engaged in more prosocial activities than their nongritty peers when autonomy support was high. Furthermore, adolescents from divorced families fared less well when autonomy support was low. Chinese families may benefit from interventions focusing on the enhancement of both parental autonomy support and adolescents' self-regulatory skills to boost psychological adjustment in postdivorce settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).