Family transformations

de Abigail J. Stewart, Henry A. Murray Research Center

This longitudinal study examined differences among families in the process of divorce and the meanings and experiences of it for individual family members. The families in the study were recruited through a search of public divorce dockets of five counties in the greater Boston area. Families for whom physical separation had occurred within the past six months, and forwhom therewas at least one child between the ages of 6 and 12 (who was designated as the focus child for the study) were identified. The sample was followed up a year later in 1982. A total of 160 families initially participated in this study, with 142 followed up at Time 2. This sample included 127 mothers (110 at Time 2), 57 fathers (42 at Time 2), and 136 focus children (102 at Time @). Most families were of European American descent and varied widely in terms of social class: the average sample family was lower-middle to middle class; about a fourth were working poor or unemployed; and a few were professionals. Parents who agreed to participate were sent a packet of questionnaires which assessed physical aspects of family structure and history,parents' own emotional, physical, and social adjustment, parenting style, and perceptions of the adjustment of the focus child. Parents and children were then interviewed separately. Parents were asked about various aspects of family life since the separation, the history of their marriage and the separation, their daily routine, and the personality, relationships, and experiences of the focus child. Children (both the focus child and other children in the family) were asked about their daily routines, family members, and their feelings about their parents' separation. After a break, they were administered several standard questionnaires. Parents were given a resource packet and were asked for permission to contact the children's teachers, who were sent the Teacher Form of the Achenback Child Behavior Checklist. A subsample of mothers and children returned for a videotaped pla/interaction session. Identical procedures were followed one year later at Time 2. The Murray Center holds paper and computer-accessible data for this study. Follow-up is not permitted.