Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of parental divorce on parent-adolescent separation

  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify variables that differentially affect parent-adolescent separation in subjects from separated vs subjects from intact families. The subjects were 318 introductory psychology students at the University of Manitoba who had already left home. They were given the Moving Out questionnaire as well as Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. Contrary to our hypotheses, subjects from separated families did not experience more conflict when leaving home than subjects from intact families, and the type and amount of divorce-related conflict was not related to higher emotional separation or locus of control scores. However, it was found that as divorce-related conflict became more openly expressed, feelings of personal control increased and feelings about leaving home became more positive. Emotional separation scores were significantly higher for all males and for subjects from separated families. Also, females had a greater sense of external control than males.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bane, M. J. (1979). Marital disruption and the lives of children. In G. Levinger, and O. C. Moles, (eds.),Divorce and Separation. Basic Books, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherlin, A. (1977). The effect of children on marital dissolution.Demography 14: 265–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douvan, E., and Adelson, J. (1966).The Adolescent Experience. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, H. B. (1969). Early delinquency in relation to broken homes,J. Child Psychol. Psychiat. Allied Dis. 10: 195–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick, O. C., and Norton, A. J. (1978). Marrying, divorce and living together in the U.S. today.Pop. Bull. 32: 3–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M. (1972). Effects of father absence on personality development in adolescent daughters.Dev. Psychol. 7: 313–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M., Cox, M., and Cox, R. (1976). Divorced fathers.Fam. Coord. 25: 417–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hotch, D. F. (1979). Separating from the family: A study of perceptions of home-leaving in late adolescence. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Michigan State University.

  • Jacobson, D. S. (1978). The impact of marital separation/divorce on children: II.J. Divorce 83: 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. B., and Wallerstein, J. S. (1976). The effects of parental divorce: Experiences of the child in early latency.Amer. J. Orthopsychiat. 46: 20–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipman-Bluman, J. (1984).Gender Roles and Power. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • McCord, J., McCord, W., and Thurber, E. (1962). Some effects of paternal absence on male children. J. Abnorm. Social Psychol. 64: 361–369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, D., and Hotch, D. F. (1981). Late adolescents' conceptualizations of leaving home.J. Youth Adoles. 10: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, D., and Hotch, D. F. (1982). Parent-adolescent separation: The role of parental divorce.J. Youth Adoles. 11: 115–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nye, F. I. (1957). Child adjustment in broken and unhappy homes.Marr. Family Living, 19: 356–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, B., and O'Leary, K. D. (1980). Marital discord and childhood behavior problems.J. Abnorm. Child Psychol. 80: 287–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Power, M. J., Ash, P. M., Schoenberg, E., and Sorey, E. C. (1974). Delinquency and the family.Brit. J. Social Work, 4: 17–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized experiences for internal versus external control of reinforcement.Psychol. Monog. 80 (1, Whole No. 609).

  • Rutter, M. (1980). Protective factors in children's responses to stress and disadvantage. In Kent, M. W., and Rolf, J. E. (eds.),Primary prevention of Psychopathology: III. Promoting Social Competence and Coping in Children. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Graham, P., Chadwick, O. F. D., and Yule, W. (1976). Adolescent turmoil: Fact or fiction?J. Child Psychol. Psychiat. Allied Dis. 17: 35–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westman, J. D., Cline, D. W., Swift, W. J., and Kramer, D. A. (1970). The role of child psychiatry in divorce.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 23: 416–420.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Jocelyn Proulx (Graduate student) & David Koulack (Professor of Psychology)

Authors
  1. Jocelyn Proulx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David Koulack
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Research interests include separation, divorce, and fster parenting.

Research interests include separation, divorce, and child development.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Proulx, J., Koulack, D. The effect of parental divorce on parent-adolescent separation. J Youth Adolescence 16, 473–480 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202941

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202941

Keywords

Search

Navigation