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Divorce Support Groups–How Do Group Characteristics Influence Adjustment to Divorce?
Abstract
Support groups generally meet to give emotional help and information to persons with a common problem. This study investigated what group characteristics were important to participants who were adjusting to divorce. Its aim was to examine the relationship between structural and procedural group variables, to study which group characteristics were significantly related to adjustment, and to investigate if gender was associated with adjustment. Several variables were found to be connected; for example, the nature of group leadership was strongly related to emotional support. Group characteristics associated with adjustment were leadership, guidance from leaders and group members, emotional support and group size. Gender differences were observed, in that males' adjustment was related to group size, and females' to the degree of emotional support.
... We confirmed the paucity of empirical research on group size and intervention effectiveness by conducting a literature review, which resulted in identification of just seven articles that presented findings related to the association between group size and treatment outcomes. Psychotherapy groups represented in these seven articles included a cognitive behavioral therapy group for chronic pain (Wilson et al., 2018), a group treatment for internet addiction among Korean adolescents (Chun et al., 2017), therapy groups for borderline personality disorder (McLaughlin et al., 2019), a cognitive behavioral therapy group for chronic fatigue (Wiborg et al., 2015), an eating disorder treatment group (Butryn et al., 2014), a divorce support group (Øygard & Hardeng, 2002), and anxiety management training groups that were categorized as either large (i.e., 10-12 members) or very large (i.e., 20 members; Daley et al., 1983). ...
... McLaughlin et al. (2019) found a negative association between group size and intervention effectiveness, such that among a sample of borderline personality disorder therapy groups that ranged in size from five to 10 members, effect sizes decreased significantly as group size increased. In a similar vein, Øygard and Hardeng (2002) found that men participating in divorce support groups experienced greater benefits when they were in a group with between five and seven members than when they were in groups of more than eight members, and Daley et al. (1983) found that members of anxiety management training groups with 10-12 members reported significantly greater improvement than those in groups with 20 members. Other studies (e.g., Butryn et al., 2014;Wiborg et al., 2015) found group size was unassociated with intervention effectiveness or did not evidence a consistent association across programs (e.g., Wilson et al., 2018). ...
... Some researchers, including Kavas (9), showed that in some societies, divorce is associated with various undesirable concepts such as shame, disreputation, and devaluation, which makes the individual internalize negative social attitudes. Social scientists have explored different factors that would buffer the psychological distress following divorce: age, as it is indicated that younger persons reported better adjustment (10), social support groups, in which people benefit from both receiving and providing empathetic understanding (11), receiving emotional support that one needs, including intimacy and attachment, reassurance, having the feeling that one is loved and cared about (12), receiving guidance, including giving information and advice which could help the person to solve her problems (12), finding a new romantic relationship and life partner (10,13), level of education, as it is stated that higher level of education helps the person to have more professional skills and control over his/her life (14), initiator status (15,16), economic resources, which has been found to have a direct relationship with low level of depression (17), and good relationship with children (18,19). The prevalence of divorce and its potentially impairing impacts justify the focuses on the post-divorce adjustment and the factors that may improve the quality of life after divorce. ...
... Some researchers, including Kavas (9), showed that in some societies, divorce is associated with various undesirable concepts such as shame, disreputation, and devaluation, which makes the individual internalize negative social attitudes. Social scientists have explored different factors that would buffer the psychological distress following divorce: age, as it is indicated that younger persons reported better adjustment (10), social support groups, in which people benefit from both receiving and providing empathetic understanding (11), receiving emotional support that one needs, including intimacy and attachment, reassurance, having the feeling that one is loved and cared about (12), receiving guidance, including giving information and advice which could help the person to solve her problems (12), finding a new romantic relationship and life partner (10,13), level of education, as it is stated that higher level of education helps the person to have more professional skills and control over his/her life (14), initiator status (15,16), economic resources, which has been found to have a direct relationship with low level of depression (17), and good relationship with children (18,19). The prevalence of divorce and its potentially impairing impacts justify the focuses on the post-divorce adjustment and the factors that may improve the quality of life after divorce. ...
Background: Divorce is a complex, multivariate concept and it affects thousands of people in Iran each year. However, the concept of post-divorce adjustment in Iranian women has not been dealt with in depth. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the factors contributing to post-divorce adjustment in divorced women.
Methods: 21 divorced women were selected using purposive and network sampling and were studied using the ground theory analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded and transcribed for further analysis.
Results: The result showed that there are six categories of the main factors contributing to post-divorce adjustment: (a) demographics, (b) Interpersonal, (c) attitudinal, (d) Relational, (e) supportive, (F) coping strategies.
Conclusion: With respect to the finding in this research and the number of people experiencing divorce each year, these results indicate the importance of supportive programs and interventions targeting the lives of women after divorc
... 1 Dr., Justice Academy, Turkey, pskaysegulsayan@hotmail.com, , ORCID: 0000-0002-5580-0617 2 Prof. Dr., Hacettepe University, Turkey, iyil@hacettepe.edu.tr, ORCID: 0000-0001-7874-8404 get through divorce as a life crisis in which they need special support and guidance (Qygard & Hardeng, 2001). ...
The literature emphasizes that the divorce rate has increased in recent years. This situation brings up another important issue, the issue of post-divorce adjustment. Prescriptive beliefs regarding divorce is an important and significiant predictor of post-divorce adjustment. However, there is a gap in instruments assessing prescriptive beliefs regarding divorce. For this reason, in this study, it was aimed
to introduce the Prescriptive Beliefs Regarding Divorce Scale. The validity and reliability studies of the scale were conducted on data obtained from 315 divorced individuals. The validity of the scale was examined by exploratory factor analysis. The reliability of the scale was tested with Cronbach-alpha coefficient and split-half method. According to the psychometric characteristics of the Prescriptive Beliefs Regarding Divorce Scale, it is concluded that it is a valid and reliable instrument to assess prescriptive beliefs of divorced individuals. Recommendations related to the use of the Prescriptive Beliefs Regarding Divorce Scale were presented.
... Consequently, men tend to have less social support networks than women (Kitson & Raschke, 1981), which may affect their post-separation adjustment. A study by Øygard and Hardeng (2001), investigating the influence of the support group on adjustment found that women's adjustment was linked to an emotionally supportive group. Also, beneficial outcomes can be gained from educational interventions because they provide not only information specific to the stressful life event but also raise questions and concerns that need to be addressed (Helgeson & Gottlieb, 2000). ...
This study explores adjustment to separation and divorce and the effects of participating in a small regional community agency group intervention program. Prior to participation in group intervention, participants were interviewed for suitability and invited to complete the pre-intervention questionnaires comprising demographics, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale and the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale. Of the forty-four participants that started the program, twenty females and ten males completed the group intervention program. Following completion, the post-intervention questionnaires were administered to participants. Some differences in adjustment to separation and divorce were noted for men and women pre-intervention on the Social Support Appraisal Scale. However, no gender differences were noted on the adjustment scales post-intervention. Overall, the results indicate that participants made significant adjustment gains following participation on all adjustment scales. This result implies there are short-term benefits of attending a group intervention program aimed at improved adjustment to separation and divorce.
This study aimed to explore the relative contribution of the country of origin associated with adjustment to divorce (AD) and its interactions with several correlate among women from two different cultures, i.e., Iran and Chile. With that purpose, 292 participants, including Muslim Iranian (n=147) and Chilean (n=145) women, completed an AD questionnaire. A hierarchical multiple linear regression test was used to examine the main effect of country of origin, as well as several correlates of AD and their interaction effects. The country of origin was strongly related to AD, with Iranian women reporting lower adjustment levels than Chilean participants. We also identified that the level of prior relationship satisfaction and a new romantic relationship were associated with AD. No interaction effects were identified.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between personal capital and adjustment to divorce after attending divorce support groups. Independent variables were education, income, level of attachment and counselling with important social network groups, and having a new partner or not. The findings are discussed in relation to Bourdieu's theory. The assumption was that personal captial influences the extent participants benefit from the participation. Subjects who were highly educated and who were least attached to network groups, benefited more from the participation than those who were lower educated and less attached. Regarding females, those who had higher incomes and who counselled with social network groups to a high extent benefited more than their counterparts. Males who had new partners were better adjusted after group participation than the single ones.
This study investigated whether people developed a continuing social network as a result of divorce support group participation. The sample consisted of 212 individuals. Theoretical frameworks employed were social exchange theory and developmental theory. Independent variables were whether the subjects had new partners, level of attachment to network groups, the extent to which participants discussed personal problems and asked for advice, group size, and number of meetings. The dependent variable consisted of an index of how connected the participants were to other group members and how regularly they met after the group meetings ended. Significant variables were number of meetings, level of attachment to network groups, and group size. Participants who had frequented most meetings, felt moderately close to network groups, and had attended groups with medium size, developed more friendships compared to their counterparts.
Telephone support groups provide access to underserved and hard‐to‐reach individuals who are not able to attend in‐person groups. This article examines the pros and cons of using telephone groups for family care‐givers of patients with advanced disease, a population whose responsibilities often preclude leaving the house and/or scheduling the time necessary to obtain support. The clinical work in this initial effort with palliative care patients and the related literature seem to demonstrate that, although there are intrinsic barriers to effective telephone groups, the advantages make it a viable alternative for this population. An attempt to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention will also be described.
In this article we focus on the psychological well-being of the widowed and divorced. The data are from a national stratified probability sample in which the divorced and widowed, particularly divorced and widowed males, were oversampled. Seven different indicators of psychological well-being are used. Compared to the married and, to a lesser extent the never married, the psychological well-being of the divorced and widowed is poor. Overall the psychological well-being of divorced males, divorced females and widowed females is roughly comparable and better than the psychological well-being of widowed males.
The psychosocial well-being of 11 separated and divorced subjects, in two adjustment groups, was measured by repeated administrations
of Hudson's Generalized Contentment Scale, Index of Self Esteem, and Index of Peer Relations in baseline, treatment, and posttreatment
phases. Single-case design, group comparison, and qualitative analyses were employed. Members of both groups significantly
improved in measures of psychosocial well-being. Eight of the 11 subjects improved on well-being, but broad variations among
them were observed. Single cases were analyzed by visual inspection of plotted scores, and qualitative data were used to interpret
differences observed among the subjects. Multiple stressors, life events, social support, who initiated the separation, and
the passage of time appeared to have an effect on the adjustment process of individuals. The obstacles in implementing research
in clinical settings are discussed and the use of multiple methods to evaluate clinical practice is recommended.
Family life educators, therapists, and researchers have focused on the trauma associated with divorce. There are, however, potential sources of support for divorcing/divorced individuals including family, friends, dating relationships, or remarrying. Therefore, the primary purpose of this paper is to review the literature related to these avenues of support.
A theoretical critique and review is presented concerning the character and consequences of changes in the social networks of spouses following separation and divorce. For men, cultural traditions that prescribe the duties and obligations of husbands are thought to encourage the development of personal friendships while simultaneously encouraging independence, thus insulating men from the possible benefits of social support following divorce. For women, the duties and obligations of wives as they are traditionally defined encourage women to accept responsibility for “kinkeeping” during and after marriage while simultaneously discouraging bonds with friends. These circumstances are thought to isolate women from the unique benefits of personal friendship and ensure networks that are dominated by kin, which typically are high in exchanges of both social support and interference. Important distinctions are drawn between the character of relationships with kin and friends, as well as between the concepts of social support and social interference.
The routine evaluation of a social work intervention designed to assist separated and divorced persons in their adjustment to divorce is reported. Divorce adjustment was measured by administering pre- and postmeasures of the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale (FDAS) to 25 clients who participated in five 10-week divorce adjustment groups. The results indicated that all but 2 individuals gained in the overall adjustment score of the FDAS. There was considerable variation between individuals in the pattern and in the magnitude of improvement that was widespread across four of the five groups. Striengths and weaknesses of the design are discussed, as well as the applications of the findings for social work practice.
Programs for divorce adjustment which utilize short-term groups provide a viable treatment intervention for meeting the needs of divorced clients. Through a comparison of such programs, this article identifies and discusses some of the issues and gaps in our present knowledge about the use of short-term groups for adjustment to divorce. Guidelines are provided for practitioners and agencies interested in developing divorce adjustment group programs or modifying existing ones.
The factors perceived as helpful by members of three different types of self-help groups are examined, using the 12 factors identified by Yalom as operative in group psychotherapy. Questionnaires were given to 45 members of self-help groups, asking for their views of the most and least helpful aspects of their experiences of their group, and for their judgement of its effectiveness. Results indicated that members of a group concerned with social and personal support in the face of a socially problematic situation (widowhood)foundthe experience of Universality to be the most helpfulfactor, while Self-Disclosure was least helpful. Membersfrom a group for the physically sick (asthma sufferers) also reported the least helpful factor to be Self-Disclosure, but said that the most helpful factor was Guidance. By contrast, the group concerned with providing ‘therapy’ for depressives reported Cohesiveness to be most helpful, and Guidance to be least helpful. Comparison with other studies using similar methodologies with different group populations suggests that the factors likely to be effective in self-help groups for the socially unsupported and physically sick on the one hand, and for the psychologically disturbed on the other, may differ.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate support groups among divorced people. Eleven females and seven males participated in three groups. The participants were interviewed, and some themes were considered. Among these were what it had meant for the subjects to participate in a group, what were the most important functions of the group, and if the participants had benefited psychologically from participating in the group. Four therapeutic factors seemed to be of particular importance. First, meeting people with the same thoughts and feelings, and increased insight of themselves and others. Further, feeling accepted and supported, and expressing difficult feelings were important factors. Group participation increased the subjects' well-being, for example, they felt more normal and less depressed.
Examined the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and supportive-insight group therapy with 46 women (aged 23–36 yrs) who had been divorced between 8 mo and 1½ yrs. 12 clients were assigned to the cognitive-behavioral group; 12 were assigned to a supportive-insight group; and 22 Ss were assigned to 2 control groups. Differences between pre- and posttest, and pretest and follow-up scores on measures of depression (Beck Depression Inventory, Lubin Depression Checklist), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory), and neuroticism (Eysenck Personality Inventory) were taken. When compared with the control groups on the posttest, both cognitive-behavioral and supportive-insight treatments were more effective on most criteria. At the 4-mo follow-up, cognitive-behavioral counseling continued to be beneficial, whereas the supportive-insight approach was consistently less effective. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Reviews the literature on potential sources of support for divorced individuals, including family, friends, dating relationships, or remarriage, as they establish a new lifestyle. In continuing relationships with family and friends, a lack of norms for dealing with divorce may result in ambiguous reaction and support, making adjustment more difficult. The need for divorced persons to socialize with people who have undergone similar experiences is a major factor in changing friendship patterns. Factors such as low self-esteem, fear of rejection, and lack of opportunity to meet appropriate dating partners may hamper the development of intimate relationships. Still, divorced men and women are able to establish new and satisfying relationships; the vast majority remarry and most of these marriages are successful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Experimented with a small-group educational and skills training approach to divorce education and conflict resolution. Three groups of couples, referred because of child-centered conflict, undertook a 4-wk (2 hrs per wk) group education experience. Five of the couples met the criteria for answering pre- and posttest questionnaires (attitude and behavior focus) to assess the effect of the group experience on the members. The results indicated that the group's attitudes toward parental cooperation improved significantly, while their self-reported behavior also improved, but not at a significant level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Reviews the literature in psychology and related disciplines regarding the impact of marital separation or divorce on the individual, focusing on divorce/separation as process, divorce-related stressors, individual differences in coping and adjustment, coping and use of social support systems, cognitive appraisal, attributional style, and treatment. The initial separation process for women is typically more stressful than for men, regardless of who initiated. Some gaps still exist within the literature, suggesting the need for additional research in such areas as treatment and the impact of initiator status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Examines literature on the responses of married persons to divorce to determine the conditions under which divorce may be experienced as a "stren," a personality enhancing or growth experience. 17 factors contributing to this outcome are discussed. These factors include the definition of divorce as a normal event, the personalities of the participants, age and sex, marital lifestyle, income and education options, traditional or nontraditional gender roles, and the role of a significant other. Suggestions are made for processes to facilitate the adjustment of divorced persons. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
"Understanding the Self-Help Organization" provides detailed, comprehensive coverage of [the self-help] phenomenon. This comprehensive volume focuses attention on 3 critical areas: public policy and self-help, participation—particularly by minorities—in self-help, and explanatory frameworks. Powell concludes this . . . volume with 6 chapters of case studies and important findings within self-help activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
One of the most significant changes in American society in the past two decades has been the dramatic increase in the number of separations and divorces. Between 1962 and 1981, the number of divorces in the United States tripled (National Center for Health Statistics, 1982). From 1970 to 1977, the divorce rate in the United States increased 79 percent (Camara et al., 1980). In the past several years, however, while the number of divorces has continued to increase, the divorce rate has stabilized. Nevertheless, there are currently over one million divorces granted annually in the United States. Since there is an average of one child per divorcing couple, these divorces represent a serious disruption in the lives of more than three million people every year (Bloom et al., in press). Current projections suggest that the near future will be little different from the recent past, and that about one-third of married persons between 25 and 35 years of age in 1975 will divorce (Camara et al., 1980).
One of the most significant changes in American society in the past two decades has been the dramatic increase in the number of separations and divorces. Between 1962 and 1981, the number of divorces in the United States tripled (National Center for Health Statistics, 1982). From 1970 to 1977, the divorce rate in the United States increased 79 percent (Camara et al., 1980). In the past several years, however, while the number of divorces has continued to increase, the divorce rate has stabilized. Nevertheless, there are currently over one million divorces granted annually in the United States. Since there is an average of one child per divorcing couple, these divorces represent a serious disruption in the lives of more than three million people every year (Bloom et al., in press). Current projections suggest that the near future will be little different from the recent past, and that about one-third of married persons between 25 and 35 years of age in 1975 will divorce (Camara et al., 1980).
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