Divorce

Question 1

What factors affect impact of divorce on children?

Answer 1

Age and gender of child and custody arrangement

Question 2

How are divorcing parents’ parenting skills affected?

Answer 2

Inconsistent discipline (vacillate btw detached & highly punitive) & disintegration of normal household routines

Question 3

Divorce gender effects on children

Answer 3

Males = more externalizing bxs; Females = more internalizing bxs; PLUS “sleeper effect” on girls in form of few problems following parents’ separation then maladjustment in teen years

Question 4

What makes negative effects of divorce on children more likely?

Answer 4

When parents continue to express conflict in front of their children

Question 5

What is “diminished capacity to parent” and how long does it last?

Answer 5

State of disorganization the typically continues about 2 years after the divorce

Question 6

How might mothers treat children during/after a divorce?

Answer 6

Show less affection overall, especially sons & may treat them more harshly

Question 7

How might fathers treat children during/after divorce?

Answer 7

More indulgent & permissive

Question 8

What is the trajectory of time spent with parent w/o physical custody over time?

Answer 8

Initially spend more time w/children with contact diminishing over time

Question 9

What factors can moderate children’s painful emotions & behavioral problems during period of divorce?

Answer 9

Age, gender, & custody arrangement

Question 10

Age as a moderator of negative reactions to divorce examples

Answer 10

Preschool children have most negative outcomes in short run

Question 11

Why might preschoolers have most negative reactions to divorce in the short run?

Answer 11

Limited cognitive abilities & can’t understand reasons for divorce & prone to self-blame, reversion to immature bxs, & intense separation anxiety

Question 12

Who might have worse long-term consequences than preschoolers?

Answer 12

Children who are older, i.e., 10 years after divorce, preschoolers at time of separation had fewer memories of the period while older children expressed painful memories & fears about own ability to have a happy marriage

Question 13

Which gender did early research show suffered more severe short and long-term consequences?

Answer 13

Boys who often show increase in noncompliance, demandingness, & hostility

Question 14

What do more recent studies of gender differences in terms of consequences of divorce show?

Answer 14

Girls also show negative effects immediately after divorce but more likely internalizing bxs (withdrawal, self-criticism) not as observable

Question 15

“Sleeper effect” in girls after divorce

Answer 15

Preschool & elementary girls may have few problems initially; however, as adolescents show noncompliance, low self-esteem, emotional problems, & antisocial bx; these girls more likely to marry young, pregnant prior to marriage, choose psychologically unstable husband

Question 16

How do custody arrangements following divorce impact children?

Answer 16

Those who live with same sex-parent may adjust better than opposite-sex parent, especially for boys; however, findings on this are inconsistent and some evidence that for adolescents of both sexes, father custody associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety, poorer grades, & other problems

Question 17

How do children of divorced parents fare with regard to school performance?

Answer 17

Poorer grades and like school less, show more peer & bx problems at school, higher risk for dropping out

Question 18

In terms of school performance, which gender & ages experience most negative effects?

Answer 18

Worse for boys than girls and for older children versus younger ones

Question 19

What is a “low income effect” as it pertains to effects of divorce on school performance?

Answer 19

When family income is taken into account, relationships between divorce & measures of school performance tend to be weaker

Question 20

What is a key contributor to children’s adjustment following divorce?

Answer 20

Relationship between parents (negative effects resulting from open conflict as compared to parents who keep conflicts hidden or resolve issues amicably

Question 21

What has research shown with respect to highly conflictual, intact families as compared to divorced, low income families?

Answer 21

Highly conflictual intact families are more poorly adjusted than those from divorced, low income families

Question 22

What are mitigating factors for children of divorced parents?

Answer 22

Maintenance of positive relationship with both parents, extended family available as support system, positive school environment, and divorce not causing major upheaval in children’s daily routines

Question 23

Some research suggests that children who show serious adjustment problems after divorce are often those who __________________________

Answer 23

Already had difficulties before the divorce