Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Children and Divorce

Stress and Coping in Developmental Perspective

  • Chapter
The Social Context of Coping

Part of the book series: The Springer Series on Stress and Coping ((SSSO))

Abstract

For several decades now, divorce has been a topic of intensive concern to researchers from various disciplines, to mental health clinicians, to child development specialists, and to those involved with the construction of social policy. As our knowledge base has expanded and evolved, so has our appreciation of the complexity of the tasks of studying and comprehending the divorce experience. Demographers indicate that despite the recent leveling-off of the divorce rate, a decline in the rate is not expected, and large numbers of children will continue to be effected. Current statistics highlight this in terms of predicting that 60% of children will spend at least some portion of their developing childhood or adolescent years in a single-parent situation (Norton & Glick, 1986). Among black children, some predictions are as high as 94% who will experience a single-parent situation (Hofferth, 1985). “Growing up divorced has become an alternative developmental path for a substantial number of children in the country” (Kalter, 1987, p. 587). Among the theses of this chapter is that our focus needs to be upon various alternative developmental paths along which divorce might be an event. Further, divorce is better conceptualized as one element in a complex series of events or experiences that may influence the course of these alternative developmental paths.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ahrons, L., & Rogers, R. (1987). Divorced families: A multi-disciplinary developmental view. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anthony, E. J., & Cohler, B. (Eds.). (1987). The invulnerable child. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachrach, L. (1975). Marital status and mental disorder (DHHS Publication ADM 75–217). Washington, DC: USGPO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, O. V., Druckman, J., Flagle, J., Camara, K., Dayton, C, Egan, J., & Cohen, A. (1980, February). The identification and development of community-based approaches for meeting the social and emotional needs of youth and families in variant family configurations. Final Report. Palo Alto, CA: American Institutes for Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernardes, J. (1986). Multidimensional developmental pathways: A proposal to facilitate the conceptualization of “family diversity.” The Sociological Review, 34, 590–610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blechman, E. A. (1982). Are children with one parent at psychological risk? A methodological review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 11, 179–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Block, J. J., Block, J., & Gjerde, P. F. (1986). The personality of children prior to divorce: A prospective study. Child Development, 57, 827–840.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, B. L., Asher, S. J., & White, S. W. (1978). Marital disruption as a stressor: A review and analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 867–894.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brady, C. P., Bray, H. J., & Zeeb, L. (1986). Behavior problems of clinic children: Relation to parental marital status, age and sex of child. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 56(3), 399–412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G., & Forehand, R. (1988). Multiple determinants of parenting: Research findings and implications for the divorce process., In E. M. Hetherington & J. D. Arasteh (Eds.), Impact of divorce, single parenting, and step-parenting on children (pp. 117–133). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G., Neubaum, E., & Forehand, R. (1988). Serial marriage: A heuristic analysis of an emerging family form. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 211–222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U., & Crouter, A. (1983). The evolution of environmental models in developmental research. In W. Kessch (Ed.), P. H. Mussen (Series Ed.), Handbook of child psychology, Vol. 1, History, theory and methods (pp. 357–414). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camara, K. A., & Resnick, G. (1988). Interparental conflict and cooperation: Factors moderating children’s postdivorce adjustment. In E. M. Hetherington & J. Arasteh (Eds.), Impact of divorce, single-parent, and stepparenting on children (pp. 169–195). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clingempeel, W G., & Reppucci, N. D. (1982). Joint custody after divorce: Major issues and goals for research. Psychological Bulletin, 91, 102–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coddington, R. D. (1972). The significance of life events as etiological factors in the disease of children: A survey of professional workers. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 16, 7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B. E. (1987a). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 101(3), 393–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B. E. (1987b). Stress and life events during childhood and adolescence. Clinical Psychological Review, 7, 275–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, A. P. (1985). Individual differences in children’s reaction to divorce. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 14(1), 11–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curry, S. L., & Russ, S. W. (1985), Identifying coping strategies in children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 14, 61–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demo, D., & Acock, A. (1988). The impact of divorce on children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 619–648.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eckenrode, J., & Gore, S. (Eds.), (1990). Stress between work and family. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elder, G. H. Jr., Nguyen, T. V., & Caspi, A. (1985). Linking family hardship to children’s lives. Child Development, 56, 361–375.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emery, R. E. (1982). Interparental conflict and the children of discord and divorce. Psychological Bulletin, 92, 310–330.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emery, R. E. (1988). Marriage, divorce and children’s adjustment Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, R. E., Hetherington, E. M., & Dilalla, L. F. (1984). Divorce, children and social policy. In H. W. Stevenson & A. Siegel (Eds.), Child development research and social policy (pp. 189–266). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falicov, C. J. (1988). Family sociology and family therapy development framework: A comparative analysis and thoughts on future trends. In C. Falicov (Ed.), Family transitions: A comparative analysis and thoughts on future trends (pp. 3–51). New York: Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felner, R. D., Farber, S. S., & Primavera, T. (1983). Transitions and stressful life events: A model for primary prevention. In R. D. Felner, L. A. Tason, T. N. Mortisugu, & S. S. Farber (Eds.), Preventive psychology: Theory, research and practice (pp. 199–215). New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felner, R. D., Rowlison, R. T, & Terre, L. (1986). Unraveling the Gordian Knot in life change inquiry: A critical examination of crisis, stress, and transitional frameworks for prevention. In S. M. Auerbach & A. L. Stolberg (Eds.), Crisis intervention with children and families (pp. 39–63). Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felner, R. D., Stolberg, A., & Cowen, E. L. (1975). Crisis events and school mental health referral patterns of young children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43, 305–310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forehand, R., Long, N., & Brody, G. (1988). Divorce and marital conflict: Relationship to adolescent competence and adjustment in early adolescence. In E. M. Hetherington & J. D. Arasteh (Eds.), Impact of divorce, single parenting, and stepparenting on children (pp. 155–167). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furstenberg, F. F. (1985). Sociological ventures in child development. Child Development, 56, 281–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furstenberg, F. F., & Allison, P. D. (1985). How marital dissolution affects children: Variations by age and sex. University of Pennsylvania; Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furstenberg, F. F., & Nord, C. W. (1985). Parenting apart: Patterns of child-rearing after marital disruption. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47, 893–904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganong, L. S., & Coleman, M. (1986, May). A comparison of clinical and empirical literature on children in stepfamilies. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 309–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garmezy, N. (1987). Stress, competence, and development: Continuities in the study of schizophrenic adults, children vulnerable to psychopathology, and the search for stress-resistant children. American Orthopsychiatry Association, 57, 159–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garmezy, N., & Rutter, M. (Eds.). (1983). Stress, coping and development. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glenn, N. D., & Kramer, K. B. (1987). The marriages and divorces of the children of divorce. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 49, 811–825.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glenn, N. C., & Shelton, B. A. (1983). Pre-adult background variables and divorce: A note of caution about overreliance on explained variance. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 45(2), 405–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heitzmann, C., & Kaplan, P. (1988). Assessment of methods for measuring social support. Health Psychology, 7, 75–109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hess, R. D., & Camara, K. A. (1979). Postdivorce relationships as mediating factors in the consequences of divorce for children. Journal of Social Issues, 35, 79–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M., & Arasteh, J. D. (Eds.). (1980). Impact of divorce, single parenting, and step-parenting on children. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M., & Camara, K. A. (1984). Families in transition: The processes of dissolution and reconstitution. In R. Parke (Ed.), Review of child development research (Vol. 7, pp. 398–439). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M., Cox, M., & Cox, R. (1985). Long term effects of divorce and remarriage on the adjustment of children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24(5), 518–530.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, W. F. (Ed.). (1986). Interventions for children of divorce: Custody Access and psychotherapy. New York: Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofferth, S. (1985). Updating children’s life course. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47, 93–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J. (1986). Life events as stressors in childhood and adolescence. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagan, J. (1979). Family experience and the child’s development. American Psychologist, 34, 886–891.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalter, N. (1977). Children of divorce in an outpatient psychiatric population. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 47, 40–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalter, N. (1987). Long-term effects of divorce on children: A developmental vulnerability model. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57(4), 587–600.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalter, N., & Plunkett, J. W. (1984). Children’s perceptions of the causes and consequences of divorce. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 23(3), 326–334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, A. D., Coyne, J. C, Schaefer, C, & Lazarus, R. S. (1981). Comparison of two modes of stress management: Daily hassles vs. major life events. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4, 1–39.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, A. D., Harrison, A., & Wertlieb, D. (1985, August). Development of the Children’s Hassles and Uplifts Scales. Poster session on stress, coping, and chronic illness. Division 38, Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, A. D., Feldman, S. S., Weinberger, D. A., & Ford, M. E. (1988). Uplifts, hassles, and adaptational outcomes in early adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 7, 371–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellem, S., Ensminger, M., & Turner, R. (1977). Family structure and the mental health of children. Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 1012–1022.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitson, G. C. (1985). Marital discord and marital separation: A county survey. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47(3), 693–700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitson, G. C, & Raschke, H.J. (1981). Divorce research: What we know; what we need to know. Journal of Divorce, 4, 1037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitson, G. C, Sussman, M. B., Williams, G. K., Zeehandelaar, R. B., Schickmanter, B. K., & Steinberger, J. L. (1982). Sampling issues in family research. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 11, 965–981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koel, A., Clark, S., Phear, W., & Hauser, B. (1988). A comparison of joint and sole legal custody agreements. In E. M. Hetherington & J. D. Arasteh (Eds.), Impact of divorce, single parenting and stepparenting on children. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krantz, S. E., Clark, J., Pruyn, J. P., & Usher, M. (1985). Cognition and adjustment among children of separated of divorced parents. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9(1), 61–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurdek, L. A. (1981). An integrative perspective on children’s divorce adjustment. American Psychologist, 3, 856–866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurdek, L. A., & Berg, B. (1987). Children’s beliefs about parental divorce scale: Psychometric characteristics and concurrent validity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55(5), 712–718.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kurdek, L. A., & Siesky, A. E. (1980). Children’s perception of their parents’ divorce. Journal of Divorce, 3, 339–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurdek, L. A., & Sinclair, R. J. (1988). Adjustment of young adolescents in two-parent nuclear, stepfather, and mother-custody families. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56(1), 91–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E., Depner, C, & Mnookin, R. H. (1988). Custody of children following divorce. In E. M. Hetherington & J. D. Arasteh (Eds.), Impact of divorce, single parenting, and step-parenting on children (pp. 91–114). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, H., Sussman, M., & Patterson, J. (Eds.). (1983). Social stress and the family: Marriage and family review (Vol. 6, 1, & 2). New York: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDermott, J. F. (1970). Divorce and its psychiatric sequence in children. Archives of General Psychiatry, 23, 421–427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melamed, B. G., and Bush, J. (1987). Parent-child influences during medical procedures. In S. M. Auerbach & A. L. Stolberg (Eds.), Crisis intervention with children and families (pp. 123–148). Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melichar, J., & Chiriboga, D. A. (1985). Timetables in the divorce process. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47(3), 701–708.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melichar, J. F., & Chiriboga, D. A. (1988). Significance of time in adjustment to marital separation. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 58(2), 221–227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norton, A., & Glick, P. (1986). One parent families: A social and economic profile. Family Relations, 35, 9–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Leary, K. D., & Emery, R. E. (1984). Marital discord and child behavior problems. In M. D. Levine & P. Satz (Eds.), Middle childhood: Development and dysfunction (pp. 345–364). Baltimore: University Park Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orton, G. (1982). A comparative study of children’s worries. Journal of Psychology, 110, 153–162.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pintner, R., & Lev, J. (1940). Worries of school children. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 56, 67–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I., Lieberman, M. A., Menaghan, E. G., & Mullan, J. T. (1981, December). The stress process. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 337–356.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedro-Carroll, J., Cowen, E., Hightower, D., & Guare, J. (1986). Preventable intervention with latency-age children of divorce: A replication study. American Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 277–290.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedrol-Carroll, J. L., & Cowen, E. L. (1985). The children of divorce intervention program: An investigation of the efficacy of a school-based prevention program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53(5), 603–611.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer, L. P., & Koch-Hattem, A. (1986). Family stress and adjustment to divorce. Family Relations, 35, 523–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, D. C, & Plomin, R. (1981). The importance of nonshared environmental influences in behavior development. Developmental Psychology, 17, 315–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1981). Stress, coping, and development: Some issues and some questions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry22, 323–356.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1985). Resilience in the face of adversity: Protective factors and resistance to psychiatric disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 598–611.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1987). Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 316–322.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sameroff, A., & Seifer, F. (1983). Familial risk and child competence. Child Development, 54, 1254–1268.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sander, I. N., Wolchik, S. A., Braver, S. L., & Fogas, B. S. (1986). Significant events of children of divorce: Toward the assessment of risky situations. In S. M. Auerbach & A.L. Stolberg (Eds.), Crisis intervention with children and families (pp. 65–83). Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santrock, J. W., & Madison, T. D. (1985). Three research traditions in the study of adolescents in divorced families: Quasi-experimental, developmental, clinical, and family sociological. Journal of Early Adolescence, 5(1), 115–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stolberg, A. L., Kiluk, D. J., & Garrison, K. M. (1986). A temporal model of divorce adjustment with implications for primary prevention. In S. M. Auerbach & Arnold L. Stolberg (Eds.), Crisis intervention with children and families (pp. 105–121). Washington, DC: Hempishere Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teachman, J. D. (1982). Methodological issues in the analysis of family formation and dissolution. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 11, 1037–1053.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. (1986). Social support as coping assistance. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology54, 416–423.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A. J. (1985). Reconceptualizing family stress. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47, 827–837.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, J. S. (1983). Children of divorce: Stress and developmental tasks. In N. Garmezy & M. Rutter (Eds.), Stress coping and development in children (pp. 265–302). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, J. S., Corbin, S. B., & Lewis, J. M. (1988). Children of divorce: A 10-year study. In E. M. Hetherington & J. D. Arasteh (Eds.), Impact of divorce, single parenting, and stepparenting on children (pp. 197–214). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, J. S., & Kelly, J. B. (1980). Surviving the breakup: How children actually cope with divorce. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weigel, C, Wertlieb, D., & Feldstein, M. (1989). Perceptions of control, competence and contingency as influences on the stress-behavior symptom relation in school-age children. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(3), 456–464.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wertlieb, D., Budman, S., Demby, A., & Randall, M. (1984). Marital separation: Stress and intervention. Journal of Human Stress, 10, 18–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wertlieb, D., Springer, T, Weigel, C, & Feldstein, M. (1987). Temperament as a moderator of children’s stressful experiences. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 234–245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wertlieb, D., Weigel, C., & Feldstein, M. (1987a). Stress, social support and behavior symptoms in middle childhood. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 16, 204–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wertlieb, D., Weigel, C, & Feldstein, M. (1987b). Measuring children’s coping. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 548–560.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolchik, S., Sandler, I. N., Braver, S. L., & Fogas, B. S. (1985). Events of parental divorce: Stressfulness ratings by children, parents, and clinicians. American Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 59–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaslow, M. J. (1988). Sex differences in children’s response to parental divorce: Research methodology and postdivorce family forms. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 58(3), 355–378.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, USA

    Donald Wertlieb

Authors
  1. Donald Wertlieb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

    John Eckenrode

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wertlieb, D. (1991). Children and Divorce. In: Eckenrode, J. (eds) The Social Context of Coping. The Springer Series on Stress and Coping. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3740-7_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3740-7_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-3742-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3740-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation