This study is to analyze a structure among the ecological variables having effects on the adjustment of children from divorced families. Study results will provide a basic framework for the development of an intervention program designed to help child...
This study is to analyze a structure among the ecological variables having effects on the adjustment of children from divorced families. Study results will provide a basic framework for the development of an intervention program designed to help children adjust to divorce.
To this end, following research questions were raised :
First, how do ecological variables have effects on the adjustment of children from divorced families ?
Second, are there any differences in the level of childs adjustment to divorce in accordance with either the sex of the child or the sex of the custodial parent ?
This study is a social survey that approaches the adjustment of children from divorced families from an ecological perspective. Prior to conducting research, a thorough literature review and pilot study were undertaken from which key variables related to childrens divorce adjustment were chosen. These key variables were divided into two primary categories : ontogenic variables and ecological system variables. Ontogenic variables include the child sex, and age at the time of divorce. Ecological system variables include microsystem, mesosystem and exosystem variables. The microsystem variable is the custodial parent-child relationship. The mesosystem variable is the school-home relationship. Exosystem variable include the adjustment to divorce of the custodial parent, sex and socioeconomic status of the custodial parent, level of social support, and conflict between parents prior to separation.
Study subjects comprised 204 pupils from 52 elementary school(Seoul 3, Inchon 5, Kyunggi 10, Kangwon 14) as well as their teacher and custodial parents.
The survey was conducted over 10 days between February 6 and February 15, 1996.
Three separate questionnaires were utilized : for teachers, for children, and for custodial parents.
The questionnaire for teachers researched school-home relationships and asked how much custodial parents supported education. The questionnaire for children questioned the custodial parents-child relationship with respect to parents child rearing attitude and conflict between parent before divorce. The questionnaire for custodial parents questioned their background, social support systems, economic hardship after divorce, depression which asks custodial parents adjustment, and included a behavioral checklist to question the childs adjustment to divorce.
Statistical methods used for the analysis of data were the t-Test and Covariance Structure Analysis by LISREL Ⅷ program.
The following summary reviews the study results.
First, 8 variables affect the adjustment of children from divorced families both directly and indirectly though 17 paths in the ecological structure which tested for the childrens adjustment.
The most contributive variables to the adjustment of children were the adjustment of the custodial parent, social support, and school-home relationship.
Systematically looking at each variables effect path, we found socioeconomic status(an exosystem variable) has an indirect effect on the childs adjustment through school-home relationship and custodial parent-child relationship.
Social support has a direct effect on the childs adjustment, and an indirect effect by affecting both the adjustment of custodial parents and the custodial parent-child relationship. Conflict between parents before divorce has a direct negative effect on the childs adjustment. And the conflict has a negative effect on the adjustment of custodial parents, so it also has an indirect effect on the adjustment of divorced children.
Time since separation has a direct effect on the childs adjustment.
The adjustment of custodial parents(an exosysterm variable and mediator), which is influenced by social support and pre-divorce conflict between parents, affects the childs adjustment. At the same time, the adjustment of custodial parents has an indirect effect on the childs adjustment through school-home relationship and custodial parent-child relationship.
The school-home relationship(a mesosystem variable)which is affected by socioeconomic status and the adjustment of the custodial parent has a direct effect on the childs adjustment and it has an indirect effect on the childs adjustment through the custodial parent-child relationship.
The custodial parent-child relationship is a microsystem variable and is influenced by socioeconomic status, social support, pre-divorce conflict between parents, age of child, adjustment of custodial parents, and school-home relationship. But in this study the custodial parent-child relationship has a negative effect on the childs adjustment.
Age of child(an ontogenic variable) directly affects the childs adjustment, and indirectly affects the childs adjustment through the custodial parent-child relationship.
Second, the study showed girls adjust more easily than boys. Also, when the childs sex is the same as the custodial parent, the child is better adjusted.