Examined long-term consequences of diverse family backgrounds for relational well-being in 313 adults from intact-happy, intact-unhappy, death-disrupted, and divorce-disrupted families. Results indicated those from intact-happy families were less likely than others to be in an intimate relationship. The quality of intimate relationships and the…

In recent years, the belief that marriage bestows large economic gains has generated enthusiasm for policy proposals that encourage the formation and continuation of two-parent families. This study examined the effects of family structure on economic resources, controlling for unobservable family background characteristics. Data were drawn from…

This paper discusses the implications of changes in the family environment on child development. Changes identified concern increases in the number and percentage of children who live in poverty, maternal employment in two-parent families, single-parent families, and the number of children in nonparental child care. Characteristics of poverty for…

One of the most dramatic changes in the American culture in recent years is the emergence of a family unit experiencing stages of disruption and reorganization as a common pattern. The stereotypical middle-class, suburban family continues to exist, but other variations of families exist also, family units for which past guidelines and assumptions…

The study interviewed 41 middle school children (25 gifted and the remainder of average ability) from intact and not intact homes to gather their perceptions of divorce's effects on school now and in the future. Results included the following statements. Differences in responses centered around the subject's cognitive abilities, more than on…

Parental separation and divorce can have a critically adverse effect on the academic performance and achievement of adolescent students. The psychological and social disadvantages can significantly interfere with students reaching their full potential for success in school. Information is provided on the scope of divorce in society and its…

Examined consequences of parental divorce and remarriage for parental support (social, instrumental, financial) for adult children. Found significant and substantial support deficit when comparing divorced to first-married parents. Remarriage did not substantially enlarge nor decrease this deficit. With exception of financial support, support…

Responds to major contribution on counseling with children (Wagner, this issue), calling it a compendium of activities that are traditionally ascribed to elementary school counselors, and criticizing it for avoiding the critical issues of the present decade. Sees disproportionately large amount of space devoted to divorce and calls for more…

While it is commonly assumed that marital therapists define their tasks as preserving marriages, most traditionally trained marriage therapists espouse a more neutral role: that is, facilitating a constructive resolution to the marital problem, whether or not that resolution ends up entailing divorce. Despite this professed ideal of neutrality, it…

Prospective study examines consequences of marital disruption for children's behavior problems and academic achievement. Results show no statistically significant effects of marital disruption on girls' behavior problems or reading achievement. Negative effects of family disruption on boys' behavior problems are not reduced when prior family…

The lawyer and counselor as an interdisciplinary team can inform the client as to complicating post-divorce problems as well as methods commonly used to conserve and effectively utilize the funds available. Thus the woman proceeds with full knowledge of the financial consequences and hazards of divorce. (Author)

Conducted meta-analysis of 37 studies dealing with long-term consequences of parental divorce for adult well-being. Results indicated adults who experienced parental divorce exhibited lower levels of well-being than did adults whose parent were continuously married. Strongest estimated effects occurred in areas of one-parent family status,…

Reviews research that indicates parents and children, although spending little time together, remain satisfied with their relationships, largely a result of consistent, but detached, parental support. Argues that consequences of maternal employment, divorce, and single-parent family structure have been exaggerated and that researchers need to…

Joint custody, the newest child custody alternative following divorce, is intended to benefit and serve the best interests of children. Unintended consequences, however, have been relatively unexplored, which raises questions as to the viability of joint custody for all families, regardless of social class, race, or ethnicity. Until further…

Although the events associated with divorce can have negative effects on children who are involved, child maladjustment is not the inevitable consequence of divorce. To investigate the factors which may account for observed variation in children's response to divorce, 46 elementary school children (22 boys, 24 girls), residing with their mothers,…