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More on Divorce

More on Divorce. Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D. What does it take to be “Good Enough” parents?. Scarr (1993) – contends that individual differences with family experiences have weak effects on development. Contrary to Baumrind – parenting skills less important than other things. Baumrind (1993) .

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More on Divorce

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  1. More on Divorce Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

  2. What does it take to be “Good Enough” parents? • Scarr (1993) – contends that individual differences with family experiences have weak effects on development. • Contrary to Baumrind – parenting skills less important than other things.

  3. Baumrind (1993) • Baumrind argues that individual differences within family leads to significant developmental outcomes. • Intellectual achievement • Social adjustment • “good enough” not adequate for normal development.

  4. Working Parents • “Ask the Children study” • If parents work, does it cause harm? • New question: does parenting differ between those who work and those who don’t work?

  5. It’s all about Time • Focused time • Shared activities with parents

  6. What makes a good parent? • National Survey • Making child feel important and loved • Responding to the child’s cues and clues • Accepting the child for who he/she is, but expecting success • Promoting strong values • Using constructive discipline

  7. Survey cont’d • Providing routines and rituals to make life predictable and create positive neural patterns in developing brains. • Being involved in child’s education. • Being there for the child.

  8. Grading Mom • 1. Being there for me when I am sick. • 2. Raising me with good values. • 3. Making me feel important and loved. • 4. Being able to go to important events. • 5. Encouraging me to enjoy learning.

  9. Grading Mom • 6. Being involved in school life. • 7. Being someone to go to when upset. • 8. Spending time talking with me. • 9. Establishing traditions with me. • 10. Knowing what goes on with me. • 11. Controlling her temper with me.

  10. Siblings • Sibling rivalry • What do siblings provide?

  11. Divorce • Changes in divorce from 1960s until now. • Following a divorce, 84% of children reside with their mother. • Changes in the method by which we do research in divorce.

  12. Research in Divorce • Past: assumed 2-parent family structure necessary for successful child socialization. • Many early studies flawed. • Many did not investigate significant mediating factors.

  13. Research in Divorce • Current researchers: take a life course, risk and resilience perspective. • Divorce is one step in a series of family transitions that affect family relationships and children’s adjustment.

  14. Effects of Divorce • Immediately following the divorce. • Symptoms most commonly seen. • After the divorce….children are less socially, emotionally, and academically well adjusted than are children in non-divorced families.

  15. Problems related to divorce • Adolescence – more likely to drop out of school, become pregnant, engage in antisocial and delinquent behavior, associate with antisocial peers, show clinical problems.

  16. Effects of Divorce • Young Adulthood – problems in level of achievement, quality of close personal relationships, fewer financial resources.

  17. Can anything positive come out of divorce? • Girls – lots of conflict before divorce, more competent after the divorce.

  18. Factors that mediate Divorce • Age: early studies indicated the younger the child, the worse / better the adjustment (depending on the study). • Recent studies – negative effects.

  19. Factors that mediate Divorce • Gender – early studies – negative effects on adjustment for boys and remarriage on adjustment for girls. • Recent studies: behavior problems increase in adolescence – greater risk for girls than boys.

  20. Factors that mediate Divorce • Personality: intelligent, competent, easy temperament, high self-esteem, internal locus of control, good sense of humor – fair better….Obviously!

  21. Should Parents stay together for the kids? • Whether divorced or not, if high conflict, children already showing effects. • Personality profile of parents need to be taken into account. • High conflict in family?

  22. What can parents do to help? • Children’s adjustment directly related to the quality of parenting environment. • Need warm and supportive, communicative, responsive to needs, exert firm, consistent control, positive discipline, monitored closely.

  23. What can parents do to help? • ***non-custodial parent must be involved. • Must be supportive. • Child must not feel in the middle. • Economics • Coparenting

  24. Father Absence • Meta-analysis 67 studies • Stevenson & Black • Girls: effects of absence: less feminine, more at risk for premarital sex. • Boys: less stereotypic in choice of toys. Older boys more aggressive in their behavior.

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