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Divorce Adjustment as a Function of Finding Meaning and Gender Differences
Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between finding meaning after divorce and subsequent adjustment. A sample of 119 volunteers (58 men, 68 women) in various stages of divorce completed the Constructed Meaning Scale, the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (to measure their general disposition to see the world as meaningful), the Disentanglement subscale (emotional separation from former spouse) of the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale, and the Scales of Psychological Well-Being. The participants also responded to open-ended questions about their perceptions of the causes and consequences of their divorce. Seven variables (gender, education, initiator status, length of separation, disentanglement, sense of coherence, and meaning) were used to predict psychological well being following divorce. Using sequential multiple regression analysis, meaning was found to add predictive power to psychological well-being over and above all other predictor variables. No gender differences were obtained for meaning or level of psychological well-being. However, women generated significantly more positive consequences of their divorce than did men. In addition, gender differences in the perception of the causes of divorce were consistent with previous research, with physical, emotional and psychological abuse only reported by women. Implications for clinical research and practice are discussed.
... Kişi, kendisi için önemli bir ilişkiyi kaybettiğinde, günlük rutinle birlikte; ilişkinin etrafındaki diğer bütün anlam yapılarını ve rutinleri de yitirmektedir. Bu kayıplar genellikle sıkıntıya, strese ve kedere yol açmaktadır (Bevvino ve Sharkin, 2003). Boşanma yaşantısı olan bireyler, psikiyatrik ve fiziksel hastalıklar, intihar, kazalar, alkolizm, cinayet ve genel ölüm oranı açısından daha büyük risk altındadır (Bloom vd., 1978). ...
... Anlamın varlığı, kişinin hayatını ne kadar anlamlı gördüğü ile ilgiliyken; anlam arayışı ise, bireyin hayatında anlam bulmaya çalışmasını ifade eder (Steger vd., 2006). Frankl'a göre anlam arayışı, genellikle acı çekmenin yol açtığı birincil insan motivasyonudur ve pozitif psikolojik uyumun temelini oluşturur (Bevvino ve Sharkin, 2003). ...
... It has two sub-dimensions, the presence of meaning and the search for meaning. As with other types of trauma, individuals can find meaning in their experiences of divorce as a way of coping with or growing out of divorce (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003). Through this meaning they find, they are better able to show resilience against challenges and experience growth. ...
Boşanma, bireylerin psikolojik sağlığı üzerinde olumsuz etkilere sebep olan travmatik bir yaşam olayıdır. Boşanmayı takiben insanların belli alanlarda pozitif değişimler yaşayabildiği yani psikolojik olarak büyüme deneyimleyebildiği bilinmektedir. Bu doğrultuda, bu çalışmanın amacı, boşanma yaşantısı olan bireylerin yaşamda anlam ve psikolojik dayanıklılık düzeyleri ile travma sonrası büyümeleri arasındaki ilişkiyi ortaya koymaktır. Araştırmada, nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden ilişkisel tarama tekniği kullanılmıştır. Araştırmaya Türkiye’nin 55 farklı şehrinden boşanma yaşantısı olan 345 kişi katılmıştır. Katılımcıların 200’ü kadın (%58), 145’i erkektir (%42). Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak, “Travma Sonrası Büyüme Ölçeği (TSBÖ)”, “Kısa Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeği (KPSÖ)”, “Yaşamda Anlam Ölçeği (YAÖ)” kullanılmıştır. Yaşamda anlam ve psikolojik dayanıklılığın travma sonrası büyüme üzerindeki etkisi AMOS programı ile Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli oluşturularak incelenmiştir. Araştırmada verilerin normal dağılım gösterdiği ve ölçme araçlarının güvenilirlik katsayılarının yeterli olduğu görülmüştür. Travma sonrası büyüme ile kısa psikolojik sağlamlık (r= 0.29, p<.001), anlamın varlığı (r= 0.49, p<.001) ve anlam arayışı (r= 0.12, p<.001) arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur. YEM ile test edilen modelin uyum iyiliği değerleri yeterli bulunmuştur. YEM sonucunda anlamın varlığı (β= .50), anlam arayışı (β= .27) ve psikolojik dayanıklılığın (β= .29) travma sonrası büyümeyi pozitif yönde etkilediği görülmüştür. Ayrıca yaşamın anlamı ve psikolojik dayanıklılığın, travma sonrası büyümeye ilişkin varyansın (R2) %35’ini açıkladığı belirlenmiştir.
... For example, many people marry with the idea that marriage is forever, and within the Catholic culture, it is a sacrament and sacred by nature. Finding meaning in the disintegration of a marriage is yet another task to add to the already complicated process of mourning after a divorce (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003). ...
... Most studies show that people who are separated or divorced have lower levels of LS than those who are not separated (Diener, Gohm, Suh, & Oishi, 2000;Yárnoz-Yaben, Garmendia, & Comino, 2016). Men and women respond differently to mourning caused by divorce, and this has different effects on their emotional issues (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;see Simon, 2002; for a review). However, the results of studies into the influence of gender in post-divorce LS are inconsistent: some have found that LS is lower in divorced men than in women (Lucas, 2005), while others found no significant differences. ...
... Por ejemplo, muchas personas se casan con la idea de que el matrimonio es para siempre, e incluso dentro de la cultura católica, de que es un sacramento, sagrado por naturaleza. Reencontrar significado a la desintegración de la pareja constituye una labor más a añadir al, ya de por sí complicado, proceso de duelo que supone un divorcio (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003). Precisamente por ello, el divorcio es considerado un evento vital estresante que, aunque en ocasiones pueda resultar beneficioso, constituye un riesgo para la salud física (Sbarra, Hasselmo, & Bourassa, 2015), aumentando la posibilidad de experimentar problemas psicológicos como depresión y suicidio (Stack & Scourfield, 2015). ...
This paper analyses life satisfaction after divorce, comparing Chilean and Spanish divorced or separated people. There were 468 divorced people included in the study, 240 Spanish and 228 Chilean. 71.5% of the Chilean and 100% of the Spanish people had children. An analysis of the variance identified that life satisfaction is higher in Chilean people than in Spanish people, although the size of the effect is moderate. Regression analysis of the data sets shows that the time since divorce and provenance explain life satisfaction for those divorced people who participated in this study. Separate analyses by country show that while for divorced Spanish people time since their divorce was the only predictor of life satisfaction, age and time since separation were the predictors of life satisfaction for Chilean divorced people.
... For example, the Persian version of the original scale showed that adjustment to divorce was positively correlated with life satisfaction and general health conditions, demonstrating an association between lower levels of FDAS and somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunctions, and severe depression (Asanjarani et al., 2018). In addition, Bevvino and Sharkin (2003) observed that disentanglement from expartner, as one dimension of FDAS, was positively correlated with psychological well-being in a sample who was going through a divorce process. ...
... Similar results have been found in previous studies (Yilmaz et al., 2021). As expected, we found men reported higher levels of adjustment to breakup than women, more particularly on the anger and social trust subscale (e.g., Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Yilmaz et al., 2021). Moreover, the findings showed no significant differences between lower and higher education levels. ...
... Life transitions and losses are inevitable in human life and to separate the human being from suffering is to deny the reality of life [2]. While life changes and suffering can be part of human beings' lives, suffering is intertwined with a search for meaning in life and a movement towards health [3,4]. Consequently, with the aim of attaining a deeper understanding of men's lives and health, this study focuses on the movement between suffering of life as an effect of life transitions and a search for meaning in life. ...
... Divorce is a common life transition that can have negative effects in terms of losing a central relationship and changing meaning structures that have been important in daily life [3]. Negative effects include increased alcohol use [10,11] risk for poorer health habits [12,13], decreased mental health [14,15], loneliness and lack of social support [16,17] and increased mortality [18]. ...
Background and aim:
Previous studies show that life transitions can have negative effects on men's lives and lead to health problems and meaninglessness in life. This study aims to deepen the understanding of men's health by exploring the movement between suffering of life and meaning in life when experienced life transitions.
Theoretical framework:
The study is anchored in Eriksson's caritative caring theory. Core concepts are health and the movement between suffering of life and meaning in life.
Methodology and methods:
The methodology is hermeneutical, and the study has a qualitative research design. Fifteen men from Norway participated in in-depth interviews in 2021. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results:
Four themes emerged in relation to the suffering of life; enduring separation from community, shame at being useless as a human being, grief over what has been lost in life, and being powerless and vulnerable in the face of a hopeless struggle. Three themes emerged in relation to meaning in life; realising what is most important in one's life gives strength, decision to live one's life brings joy in life and a positive attitude towards life gives freedom and awakens a new spark for life.
Conclusion:
Suffering of life emerges as a separation from relationships and society and as a perceived uselessness as a human being losing faith, control and feeling like a burden erodes dignity and trigger feelings of shame, guilt and degradation. Suffering of life manifests as loss of drive and spark for life. Life has meaning through finding the good in oneself, coming to know and believe in oneself and seeing new possibilities which bring about a spark for life, gratitude, dignity and freedom. Health exists in the movement between suffering of life and meaning in life, in pausing, recognising vulnerability, prioritising and reorienting oneself.
... From this perspective, divorce has been classified as one of the most stressful experiences in adulthood [2]. Moreover, there may be gender differences in the negative consequences of divorce [18][19][20]. For instance, males reported poorer well-being than females in the short term after divorce [19]. ...
... It has been argued that gender differences prior to divorce in variables like self-esteem, attachment or social support are related to gender roles and account for differences in adjustment after the divorce between men and women [94,95]. Some studies also showed gender differences in the after-effects of divorce; for instance, women generated significantly more positive consequences of their divorce than men [18]. However, in the longer term, subjective measures of well-being were similar for females and males, demonstrating that post-divorce adaptation alleviated gender disparities [19]. ...
Prior research has mainly examined non-adaptive responses to divorce, with less attention being paid to positive changes following the adversity of marital dissolution, especially posttraumatic growth and its consequences. The aim of this paper was to analyse the relationship between posttraumatic growth and subjective well-being, as well as the mediating and moderating role of self-esteem in this relationship among divorced men and women. The sample consisted of 209 divorcees (143 females, 66 males) aged 23–80 (M = 41.97, SD = 10.72). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) were used in the study. Positive associations between overall posttraumatic growth, specific growth dimensions, subjective well-being and self-esteem were found. Self-esteem was confirmed as a mediator in the relationships between changes in perception of self and subjective well-being (SWB), between changes in relating to others and SWB and between appreciation for life and SWB. Self-esteem moderated the association between spiritual changes and subjective well-being; namely, changes in spirituality were positively related to happiness in individuals with lower and average self-esteem but not with high self-esteem. We found no differences between women and men in the obtained results. Self-esteem might be considered a possible psychological (mediating rather than moderating) mechanism in the transmission of PTG onto SWB in divorcees, regardless of their gender.
... In addition, divorce may not only lead to experience temporary or permanent decrements in well-being, but also may be associated with feelings of relief or liberation and may benefit some individuals [6], [7], [11], [12]. This suggests that divorce, like other forms of trauma, may present the individual with an opportunity to find meaning and facilitate subsequent adjustment [13]. As effective adaptation, theory proposes that people react emotionally to unexplained events and attempt to understand them; and, if they succeed, adapt to the events and have weaker affective reactions [12]. ...
... Psychological distress preceded divorce among women and therefore experienced less stress and better adjustment in general, than men did after divorce [7], [20]. They generated significantly more positive consequences of their divorce than did men [13]. In this sense, several possible explanations have been pointed that women more accustomed to relationships and relational difficulties than were men. ...
The impact of divorce experience on divorcees (N = 508) was examined within Arab context using stress measurement consisting of three domains: Cognitive, behavioral, and emotional. Results of a one-way analysis of variance indicated a statistically significant effect of gender within emotional domain. A strong correlation between emotional and cognitive symptoms subscales was found among divorcees. Negative moderate correlation between behavioral and cognitive as well as emotional and behavioral association were shown among men divorcees.
... In addition, divorce may not only lead to experience temporary or permanent decrements in well-being, but also may be associated with feelings of relief or liberation and may benefit some individuals [6], [7], [11], [12]. This suggests that divorce, like other forms of trauma, may present the individual with an opportunity to find meaning and facilitate subsequent adjustment [13]. As effective adaptation, theory proposes that people react emotionally to unexplained events and attempt to understand them; and, if they succeed, adapt to the events and have weaker affective reactions [12]. ...
... Psychological distress preceded divorce among women and therefore experienced less stress and better adjustment in general, than men did after divorce [7], [20]. They generated significantly more positive consequences of their divorce than did men [13]. In this sense, several possible explanations have been pointed that women more accustomed to relationships and relational difficulties than were men. ...
The impact of divorce experience on divorcees (N = 508) was examined within Arab context using stress measurement consisting of three domains: Cognitive, behavioral, and emotional. Results of a one-way analysis of variance indicated a statistically significant effect of gender within emotional domain. A strong correlation between emotional and cognitive symptoms subscales was found among divorcees. Negative moderate correlation between behavioral and cognitive as well as emotional and behavioral association were shown among men divorcees.
... Confirming the convergent validity, results indicated that satisfaction with life and psychological well-being increased and psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress decreased when divorced and separated individuals reported higher levels of adjustment in terms of lack of grief, disentanglement, lack of anger, trust/intimacy, and self-worth. These findings were in line with studies reporting positive correlations of the FDAS with satisfaction with life (e.g., Guzmán-González et al., 2017;Yasumitsu & Satoko, 2020) and psychological well-being (e.g., Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Steiner et al., 2015), and negative correlations with depression (e.g., Asanjarani et al., 2018;Guzmán-González et al., 2017), anxiety (e.g., Asanjarani et al., 2018;Guzmán-González et al., 2017), and stress (e.g., Guzmán-González et al., 2017;Plummer & Koch-Hattem, 1986). In addition, results of the regression analyses ascertained the incremental validity of the FDAS-SF. ...
... However, women and men had comparable scores on the other factors of the FDAS. The present finding of non-significant group differences on the grief, disentanglement, trust, and intimacy, and self-worth subscales agrees with the findings of other studies in which the subscales of the full FDAS were compared across gender groups (e.g., Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Hensley, 1996Hensley, , 2006. Although women and men may have different ways of coping with the breakup distress (e.g., Hensley, 2006;Steenbergen Richmond & Hendrickson Christensen, 2001), they experience similar levels of subjective adjustment difficulties following divorce/separation as emphasized by some of the previous research assessing the relationship termination adjustment in terms of overall distress in different cultural contexts (e.g., Hortacsu & Karanci, 1987;Kitson & Holmes, 1992;Sprecher, 1994). ...
The aim of this study was twofold. Study 1 was carried out to derive a subset of items from the Turkish version of the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale (FDAS) which is a 100-item instrument assessing the level of adjustment after divorce or separation. A total of 262 individuals were participated in Study 1 where statistical analyses including exploratory factor analysis and content coverage procedures were complementarily used to create the short form (FDAS-SF). The psychometric evaluation of the FDAS-SF was the focus of Study 2 including 230 participants. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that a five-factor model provides good fit to data. Additionally, the dimensionality of FDAS was found to be invariant across gender and separation status (divorced vs. separated) groups. Apart from the reliability analyses indicating high consistency, the convergent validity of the FDAS-SF was also confirmed by significant correlations with the relevant psychological structures including satisfaction with life, psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress. Examination of incremental validity showed that the FDAS-SF significantly predicted the levels of satisfaction with life and psychological well-being after controlling for psychological symptomatology. Overall, the FDAS-SF had satisfactory psychometric properties among not only divorced but also separated Turkish women and men.
... Divorce is one of the most stressful life events and requires significant adjustment (Kitson, 2013;Kulik & Heine-Cohen, 2011). Results from a large body of research has indicated that divorced individuals confront a variety of stressors, including financial problems (Amato & Previti, 2003;Ghodrati, 2016;Kulik & Heine-Cohen, 2011), shrinking social networks (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Kramrei et al., 2007), friendship losses (Oygard, 2004;Pachauri, 2018), and moving (Kulik & Heine-Cohen, 2011;Wang & Amato, 2000). Divorced individuals may be at higher risk for physical (Cunningham & Waldock, 2016;Richmond & Christensen, 2001) and psychological dysfunction (Bowen & Jensen, 2017;Fine & Harvey, 2013;Lawson & Satti, 2016). ...
... Other factors that some might expect to predict DA have limited research support, such as a sense of coherence, self-acceptance, perceived stress, attitudes toward marital dissolution, subjective well-being, and quality of social relationships. (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Kramrei et al., 2007;Kulik & Heine-Cohen, 2011;Nelson, 1995;Pledge, 1992;Quinney & Fouts, 2004;Steiner et al., 2011;Wang & Amato, 2000). ...
The aim of the present study was to explore the extent to which the combination of the Big Five personality traits and adult attachment styles are associated with a broad array of divorce adjustment (DA) indicators. A total of 200 Iranian divorced women took part in the study. Participants completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering socio-demographic, the Big Five, adult attachment styles, and indicators of DA. The results showed that higher levels of the Big Five (with neuroticism reverse-coded) were collectively associated with higher levels of feeling of self-worth, disentanglement of love relationships (DLRS), social self-worth, rebuilding of social trust, lower levels of symptoms of grief, and feelings of self-anger. Higher levels of secure attachment were associated with higher levels of self-worth and DLRS. Lower levels of ambivalent attachment were associated with higher levels of DLRs, rebuilding of social trust, and lower levels of grief symptoms and feeling of self-anger. The role of Iranian culture on post-DA is discussed.
... Several studies have documented sex differences in the costs experienced after breakup. Women typically report experiencing more benefits after the breakup and men report poorer adjustment (Avellar and Smock, 2005;Bevvino and Sharkin, 2003;Haugaard and Seri, 2003;Mika and Bloom, 1980). This pattern is not universal, however; other studies find that men and women experience breakups quite similarly (McCarthy, Lambert, and Brack, 1997;Metts, Cupach, and Bejlovec, 1989;Sprecher et al., 1998). ...
... Women tended to report severe reactions to breakup in general as measured by the emotions reported, costliness experienced, and strategies used. That women tended to report more negative emotions following breakup was surprising, given previous studies which document that adult men usually react and feel more negatively following breakup than women (Choo et al., 1996;Hill et al., 1976;Mika and Bloom, 1980;Sprecher, 1994;Sprecher et al., 1998) and that women tend to report more personal growth after breakup (Bevvino and Sharkin, 2003;Mearns, 1991;Tashiro and Frazier, 2003). The results of our three exploratory instruments regarding emotions, costs and strategies instead suggest that this effect may be age-dependent. ...
This study examined differences between men and women, and between individuals experiencing rejection (Rejectees) and individuals doing the rejecting (Rejectors) in romantic relationship break-ups. We tested fourteen evolution-based predictions about romantic breakups using data from 193 participants; ten received support. Women more than men, for example, experienced costly sequelae such as the loss of a mate's physical protection and harmful post- breakup stalking by the ex-partner. Both men and women who were rejected, compared with those who did the rejecting, experienced more depression, loss of self-esteem, and rumination. Rejectors, on the other hand, experienced the reputational cost of being perceived by others as cruel. Exploratory data analyses revealed that women more than men reported experiencing negative emotions after a breakup, particularly feeling sad, confused, and scared. Both sexes used an array of strategies to cope with the breakup, ranging from high base-rate strategies such as discussing the breakup with friends to low base-rate strategies such as threatening suicide. The largest sex difference in coping strategies centered on the act of shopping, used by women Rejectors as well as women Rejectees, likely a strategy of appearance enhancement prior to re- entering the mating market. Discussion focuses on the adaptive significance of sex differences and individual differences based on rejection status.
... A thesis of the current article is that value-behavior congruence and meaning are of central importance to the enrichment of intimate relationships, and it is heartening that the significance of the meaning construct to couples therapy has been noticed outside of the logotherapy literature (e.g., Bevvino and Sharkin 2003;Doherty 2001;Epstein and Baucom 2002;Gottman 1999Gottman , 2002. Given that values and meaning are receiving increasing recognition in this area, how then does a therapist go about helping each partner, and the couple as a unit, to identify and prioritize values and to enhance the perceived meaning in their relationship? ...
... In this paper, we have attempted to present a rationale for couples therapists to include logotherapy in their work as a means of helping partners to clarify values and derive a greater sense of meaning in their intimate relationships. Our arguments are largely theoretical and anecdotal, further supported by available research of the meaning construct's significance (e.g., Bevvino and Sharkin 2003;Lantz and First 1987). Clearly, more research is warranted to strengthen the knowledge base and to guide clinical practice. ...
Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy posits that human life has purpose and that human beings are motivated to discover meaning in
their lives. This paper’s objective is to present a case for incorporating meaning into couples therapy as a way of enhancing
a clinician’s existing approach. Logotherapy is a potentially useful modality, regardless of the clinician’s theoretical orientation,
given its collaborative nature and focus on the significance of meaning and values to the human condition. A logotherapeutic
approach to couples therapy (i.e., meaning-centered couples therapy) would involve values clarification (individually and
collectively) and emphasis on a love that is based on acceptance and self-transcendent growth. Logotherapy techniques are
discussed, a composite illustration is presented, and recommendations for research are offered.
KeywordsCouples therapy-Intimate relationships-Meaning-Purpose-Logotherapy
... Consistent with the notion that men expect and benefit more from romantic relationships, men envision fewer benefits from a breakup than women do (Helgeson, 1994). Moreover, men typically experience less growth than women following relationship dissolution, and they are less likely to report positive changes such as having learned what they want in a partner and relationship (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Tashiro & Frazier, 2003). But even feelings and beliefs regarding ex-partners differ between men and women. ...
Women are often viewed as more romantic than men, and romantic relationships are assumed to be more central to the lives of women than to those of men. Despite the prevalence of these beliefs, some recent research paints a different picture. Using principles and insights based on the interdisciplinary literature on mixed-gender relationships, we advance a set of four propositions relevant to differences between men and women and their romantic relationships. We propose that relative to women: (a) men expect to obtain greater benefits from relationship formation and thus strive more strongly for a romantic partner, (b) men benefit more from romantic relationship involvement in terms of their mental and physical health, (c) men are less likely to initiate breakups, and (d) men suffer more from relationship dissolution. We offer theoretical explanations based on differences between men and women in the availability of social networks that provide intimacy and emotional support. We discuss implications for friendships in general and friendships between men and women in particular.
... Following a breakup, men on average see fewer benefits in the breakups than women (Helgeson, 1994) and also perceive fewer positive changes like having learned more about what they want from a relationship (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Tashiro & Frazier, 2003). In line with this, studies conducted in Austria, Germany, and the United States consistently find that men tend to see their ex-partners more positively than women do (Athenstaedt et al., 2020;Grüning et al., 2023). ...
Research has long shown that men suffer more from romantic breakups than women. We predicted that men would on average be less inclined to initiate separation, decline with the separation more in well-being and increase more in loneliness, are less satisfied with singlehood, and desire a new partner more than women. We theorized that these gender differences in separation adaptation could be linked to men’s higher reliance on their partners for emotional support. Because socioemotional selectivity theory suggests that with age people shift toward more fulfilling social connections, we also expected men’s dependency on their partners for emotional support to be smaller in midlife than in young adulthood. To examine our hypotheses, we analyzed multiyear within-person longitudinal change data from 1,530 mostly unmarried participants from the annual German pairfam study who had experienced a relationship dissolution. We applied propensity score matching to compare separation-related changes in well-being and loneliness to case-matched controls who remained in a romantic relationship. Results showed that men relative to women were less likely to initiate separation, less satisfied with singlehood, and wished for a partner more. In contrast to our expectations, the gender differences observed did not differ by age, and no gender differences were found in separation-related changes in well-being and loneliness. Dissolution-related effects on well-being were only evident for marital relationships, while dissolution-related effects on loneliness were equally strong for marital and nonmarital dissolutions. Our study suggests that previous findings on gender-specific divorce-induced changes in well-being may not generalize to nonmarital dissolutions.
... Some studies demonstrate that men with stronger religious and spiritual beliefs experience more positive emotions and have access to greater resources for adjustment (Kołodziej-Zaleska & Przybyła-Basista, 2020). However, previous studies suggest that both men and women, with various backgrounds, can adjust after experiencing a marital separation that marital separation (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2015). Similarly, Bastani et al. (2022) conducted a study on divorce adjustment among Iranian women and men and concluded that both groups require training to adjust to post-divorce conditions. ...
... The person initiating the separation may have considered marital dissolution for several years previously. As such, the initiator of the separation was able to better detach themself emotionally and give meaning to this event (Bevvino and Sharkin, 2003). Along the same lines, initiators may exhibit more positive emotions and are more likely to be resilient, while non-initiators experience more negative emotions (Frisby et al., 2012). ...
Objective
Our research aim is to enrich the conceptualization of high conflict post-divorce co-parenting by understanding the dynamic process involved.
Background
The studied phenomena were explored by linking previous scientific knowledge to practice.
Method
We cross-referenced the previous study results with the experiences reported by eight professionals and tried to answer the following research question: how professionals’ experience and previous scientific knowledge contribute to a better understanding of HC post-divorce co-parenting? Individual face to face interviews were conducted and analyzed regarding the qualitative theoretical reasoning of thematic analysis.
Results
Analysis allowed us to highlight how four main axes are related to HC post-divorce co-parenting: (1) Parents for life, (2) Acting in the child’s best interests, (3) Managing disagreements, and (4) Healing the separation.
Conclusion
Our findings capture high conflict post-divorce co-parenting as a multidimensional dynamic process. As such, dealing with co-parenting disagreements must be understood as a moment in a process that is influenced by, and influences, other dimensions.
Implications
Interventions must consider the four dimensions and their reciprocal interactions. The essential elements underlying parents’ difficulties may reside at a multiplicity of levels: inter-relational, contextual, and intrapsychic. Each level contains key potential factors in understanding these families, and in formulating intervention guidelines.
... Boss (1988Boss ( , 1992Boss ( , 2002 explains that it is the family members' perceptions of the situation that prevent them from managing loss-related stress. Researchers (e.g., Bevvino & Sharkin, 2004;Boss, 2002) have argued that attributing a positive meaning to the loss experience is essential to an individual's ability to cope effectively. In this way, the meaning that a family assigns to the loss directly influences family functioning. ...
Millions of children across the globe are sons and daughters of military parents. These children have a unique set of circumstances which impact their education, development, family, and entire life. This paper considers research, which has shown that when teachers can create a positive relationship with individual students in their class, the student will see the school as a supportive space wherein he or she can academically and socially engage. Strategies to guide work with this population’s special needs are offered for teachers and administrators.
... Further, women may be more likely to desire remaining single if they cannot have a stable, egalitarian relationship (see Gerson, 2010Gerson, , 2017, which illustrates that staying single may be more preferable than reconciling an unstable union. Likewise, past research indicates that women, in general, may fall out of love more readily (Rubin, Peplau, & Hill, 1981), report more positive consequences of divorce (e.g., Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003), and report less distress following divorce than men (potential economic disadvantages aside; Leopold, 2018) in some studies (see Amato, 2000, for a review). Alternatively, it is possible that the men in these cyclical relationships felt that the time apart during marital separation improved their relationship (see Dailey et al., 2011) and forced these individuals to reflect on the strengths of the relationship that they were missing (Dailey, 2020). ...
Divorce is considered distressing for many individuals (Sbarra et al., Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2015, 24, 109); however, individuals in poor‐quality relationships may experience certain benefits of leaving an unstable union (Amato & Hohmann‐Marriott, Journal of Marriage and Family, 2007, 69, 621). On–off relationship cycling, or the breakup and reconciliation of a relationship, is a salient indicator of poor relationship quality and a common form of relationship instability (Dailey et al., Personal Relationships, 2009, 16, 23) that is associated with distress (Monk et al., Family Relations, 2018, 67, 523). In line with divorce–stress–adjustment and relational turbulence theory perspectives, we hypothesized that those whose relationships were characterized by on–off instability would experience less distress during the separation and divorce process. Given gender inequality in marriage (e.g., Dempsey, Journal of Sociology, 2002, 38, 91; Monin & Clark, Sex Roles, 2011, 65, 320), we also hypothesized that this association would be more pronounced for women. Using data from 98 divorced or separating couples, we found that relationship cycling prior to the separation and divorce process was associated with fewer distress symptoms for women. Conversely, a history of relationship cycling was associated with more distress symptoms for men. Our study provides support and extends prior investigations illustrating that, for some, those in unions characterized by more turmoil, may experience relief following a termination.
... Boss (1988Boss ( , 1992Boss ( , 2002b shared the history of the theory (Boss, 2016) and explained that it is the family members' perceptions of the situation that prevent them from managing loss-related stress. For a long period, researchers (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2004;Boss, 2002b;Visotsky et al., 1961) have argued that individuals' attributing a positive meaning to their experience is essential to their coping effectively with a loss. Thus, the meaning that a family assigns to the loss directly influences family functioning and these perceptions become critical in understanding and treating distressed families (Antonovsky & Sourani, 1988;Boss, 2002b;Solheim & Ballard, 2016). ...
The goal of this study was to explore middle aged mothers’ and young adult daughters’ perceptions of the impact of non-death loss. This qualitative study explored perceptions of loss and boundary ambiguity of 24 mother-daughter dyads through individual interviews. All mothers and daughters described losses such as illness, the daughters’ launching, and dissolution of relationships that impacted the mother-daughter relationship. Comparison of mothers’ and daughters’ descriptions of the impacts of loss revealed convergence and divergence in their descriptions of associated levels of boundary ambiguity. Although experiences of loss do seem to be a universal human experience, perceptions regarding the impact of loss on both the individual and the mother-daughter dyad vary greatly.
... Divorce disrupts the relationships around which people eventually orga-105 nize and give meaning to their lives. After the divorce, the structure of marriage and many social support networks disintegrates, as do the usual routines of daily life (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003). Social support can alleviate the stress that the divorced individual is experiencing (Preece & DeLongis, 2005). ...
This study was an attempt to determine the factor structure, reliability, validity, and adaptation of the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale (FDAS) for Iranian divorced individuals. The primary rationale for this study was the lack of such an instrument in an Iranian context to help researchers and therapists determine postdivorce adjustment and distinguish those in need of receiving psychological help. Participants of this study were 486 individuals (49.5% men, 50.5% women) who were divorced and were selected from the available population. Participants were asked to complete a sociodemographic questionnaire, the FDAS (Fisher, 1978), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ; Ghanbarnejad & Turki, 2013). The results showed that the internal consistency of FDAS using Cronbach’s alpha was .93 and the split-half coefficient was .89, indicating fine consistency. Also, the internal consistency of FDAS subscales measuring self-worth, disentanglement from the ex-partner, anger, grief, social trust, and social self-worth was .81, .86, .89, .88, .86, and .69, respectively, using Cronbach’s alpha. Data analysis shows an adequate convergent validity with the SWLS and GHQ. It can be concluded that the FDAS has an acceptable factor structure, reliability, and validity, and can be used in Iran and other Persian-speaking countries.
... Tal educación ocasiona que, ante la separación, experimenten un mayor aislamiento social y soledad; las mujeres a su vez tienden a buscar y recibir mayor apoyo por parte de familiares y amistades. Estos resultados son consistentes con investigaciones en las que se ha encontrado que en un divorcio son las mujeres las que reciben más beneficios y superan más rápidamente el suceso (Bevvino y Sharkin, 2003;Tashiro y Frazier, 2003). Perilloux y Buss (2008) hallaron que los individuos que iniciaron la ruptura reportaron utilizar diversas estrategias de enfrentamiento, tales como buscar a los amigos en común para no perder su red social, gastar dinero para atraer una nueva pareja, beber alcohol frecuentemente y mostrar en público atracción por alguien más. ...
ABSTRACT One of the most important relationships in humans is the romantic relationship; therefore, its dissolution might be an important source of stress and overall discomfort, even causing alterations in physical and mental health. Many investigations have found a statistically significant relationship between a romantic breakup and high levels of depression, anxiety and use of drugs, especially in first romantic experiences. Likewise, there is evidence of the important role that individual and social characteristics play on the precipitation, exacerbation, and maintenance of the emotional and behavioral problems derived from a stressful or traumatic event. In this sense, it can be concluded that a more profound knowledge about this matter will allow to design preventive and therapeutic interventions for vulnerable groups, such as young people.
... These physiological changes, such as lower overall energy levels, may aid individuals in analyzing their problems without distraction. Therefore there may be a tentative relationship between why women, who in general report more depressive symptoms after a breakup, also report more personal growth than men (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Mearns, 1991). This was demonstrated by Morris and Reiber (2011) who, in a campus-based pilot study, found that women (mostly ages 18-24) brought up this painful loss of self-esteem twice as often as men. ...
Female competition for male attention is multifaceted. Typically psychological and relational in nature, this competition may be no less damaging than physical violence more commonly used between males. Research on female–female mate competition has examined short-term effects, yet how women cope with long-term effects of romantic relationship dissolution has been little explored. If negative emotions exist because they provide an evolutionary advantage (attuning physiological processes, thoughts, and behaviors to deal with situations that have frequently incurred high fitness costs), then emotions arising from the loss of a mate to a sexual rival may potentially motivate actions that could make one avoid this scenario in the future. This essay argues that there are consequences of female intrasexual mate competition that may be both evolutionarily adaptive and also beneficial in terms of personal growth and that may expand beyond mating and into other realms of personal development.
... Even though the model has been successfully used in many studies (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Carmody et al., 2009;Chang, D'Zurilla, & Sanna, 2009;Downie et al., 2007;Grossbaum & Bates, 2002;Iwamoto & Liu, 2010) one should always take into consideration the above mentioned objections when using it. Furthermore, the scale is valid just at a medium level of well-being (Abbot et al., 2010;Burns & Machin, 2009) which should also be considered. ...
Even though surfing is not a very typical sport in the landlocked countries, its popularity has grown in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the recent years. However, research in this phenomenon is not very widespread. There has not been any study written on this topic in the Czech and Slovak psychological literature. The main of this thesis was to find information about Czech and Slovak surfers, who do this sport on a regular basis. In particular, we examined the relationship between surfing and flow experience, life satisfaction and personality characteristics. We worked with two samples in our research. The first sample of a Surf group consisted of 34 women and 35 men aged between 20 to 47 years of age. The second group of non-surfers, respondents who had no previous experience with surfing, consisted of 31 men and 39 women aged between 18 and 50 years of age. The respondents came from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The data was collected by an online questionnaire which consisted of the Flow State Scale-2 (Řezáč, 2007), the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (Fahrenberg et al., 2001) and the NEO 5-factor Personality Inventory (Hřebíčková & Urbánek, 2001. We also administrated the Flow Questionnaire (Csikszentmihalyi & Csikszentmihalyi 1982, as cited in Han, 1988) for the Non-surf group to identify flow activity. The results of the two samples were compared together. Some significant differences were found between the surfers and non-surfers in connection to flow experience. Surfers scored higher than non-surfers in the dimensions of autotelic experience and time transformation. Non-surfers scored higher than surfers in the dimensions of unambiguous feedback and sense of control. No significant differences between the groups were found in life satisfaction. However, the group of surfers had higher rates in all the dimensions of life satisfaction as well as in the overall life satisfaction. Significant differences between the groups were found in personality characteristics. The results of our research suggest that surfers are more emotionally stable, more extraverted, more open to new experiences and more conscientious. The results of this study can serve as a launching pad for further research in inland surfing.
... This finding contrasted with previous studies that suggested it is men who experience breakups with stronger negative emotions than women (Choo et al., 1996;Sprecher, 1994;Sprecher et al., 1998). Perilloux and Buss (2008) also found that women tend to report more personal growth after breakup, which mirrors the findings of other research (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003;Mearns, 1991;Tashiro & Frazier, 2003). A major finding of Perilloux and Buss was that those who initiated the breakup had significantly different emotional responses than those who were rejected. ...
We gathered data that would allow us to examine evolutionarily informed predictions
regarding emotional and physical responses to a breakup—a cluster of correlated
responses we refer to as postrelationship grief (PRG). We tested predictions of the
existing biological model of human mating and looked to replicate or expand on the
extant literature by surveying 5,705 participants in 96 countries (Mage � 27 years).
Seventy-five percent of respondents experienced a breakup and 75% of those individuals
experienced multiple breakups. Most responses differed significantly by sex.
Emotional response was more severe than physical, with women expressing higher
levels than men in each instance. Distribution of responses was similar between sexes.
Intensity of emotional response for both sexes was notable: median (and mean)
response of nearly 7 (of 10). Component responses, both physical and emotional, again
showed significant variation but similar distributions. Women initiated breakups more
frequently. Rejected individuals experienced higher PRG levels than those initiating the
breakup or breakups via mutual agreement; however, the PRG experience was still
relatively severe for both parties. “Lack of communication,” was the most prevalent
breakup cause. This initial investigation suggests that PRG requires continued study.
... These physiological changes, such as lower overall energy levels, may aid individuals in analyzing their problems without distraction. Therefore, there may be a tentative relationship between why women, who in general report more depressive symptoms after a breakup, also report more personal growth than men (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003; Mearns, 1991). This was demonstrated by Morris and Reiber (2011) who, in a campus based pilot study, found that women (mostly ages 18-24) brought up this painful loss of self-esteem twice as often as men. ...
Female competition for male attention is multifaceted. Typically psychological and relational in nature, this competition may be no less damaging than physical violence more commonly used between males. Research on female-female mate competition has examined short-term effects, yet how women cope with long-term effects of romantic relationship dissolution has been little explored. If negative emotions exist because they provide an evolutionary advantage (attuning physiological processes, thoughts, and behaviors to deal with situations that have frequently incurred high fitness costs) then emotions arising from the loss of a mate to a sexual rival may potentially motivate actions that could make one avoid this scenario in the future. This chapter argues that there are consequences of female intrasexual mate competition which may be both evolutionarily adaptive and also beneficial in terms of personal growth, and that may expand beyond mating and into other realms of personal development.
... Although Tashiro and Frazier (2003) found that following a breakup undergraduate students reported on average five positive changes or benefits, such as improved friendships, greater focus on university work, and personal growth (e.g., 'I am more self-confident'), we could find no study that specifically examined the relationship between the finding of benefits and adjustment following a non-marital breakup using a standardised measure of benefit finding. There is, however, research that supports the role finding meaning in divorce plays in subjective wellbeing (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003), and positively focused writing following a breakup has been related to increased positive emotions (Lewandowski Jr., 2009). Further, a meta-analysis examining a range of highly stressful life events and ongoing stressors, such as chronic illness and bereavement, found that finding benefits in the experience was related to greater positive affect and less depression (Helgeson et al., 2006). ...
Many people experience a non-marital relationship breakup, which can lead to poor adjustment outcomes; however, relative to divorce, non-marital breakups have received less research attention, particularly on factors that may predict positive adjustment outcomes. We examined the adaptive role of finding benefits in a non-marital breakup in 140 participants who completed measures of benefit finding, the impact of the event, and adjustment. Regression analyses found that benefit finding related to positive adjustment outcomes and that the benefit finding-depression relationship was moderated by the impact of the event. This study provides empirical support for benefit finding in a non-marital relationship breakup.
... In contrast, single women fared better than married women in reported levels of autonomy and personal growth [90]. The transition to divorce or widowhood has been associated with well-being decline, particularly for women [90], although post-divorce well-being was influenced by finding meaning in one's activities [91]. Underscoring well-being as a protective resource, individuals with higher environmental mastery, self-esteem, and optimism were better able to adapt to conjugal loss [92]. ...
This article reviews research and interventions that have grown up around a model of psychological well-being generated more than two decades ago to address neglected aspects of positive functioning such as purposeful engagement in life, realization of personal talents and capacities, and enlightened self-knowledge. The conceptual origins of this formulation are revisited and scientific products emerging from 6 thematic areas are examined: (1) how well-being changes across adult development and later life; (2) what are the personality correlates of well-being; (3) how well-being is linked with experiences in family life; (4) how well-being relates to work and other community activities; (5) what are the connections between well-being and health, including biological risk factors, and (6) via clinical and intervention studies, how psychological well-being can be promoted for ever-greater segments of society. Together, these topics illustrate flourishing interest across diverse scientific disciplines in understanding adults as striving, meaning-making, proactive organisms who are actively negotiating the challenges of life. A take-home message is that increasing evidence supports the health protective features of psychological well-being in reducing risk for disease and promoting length of life. A recurrent and increasingly important theme is resilience - the capacity to maintain or regain well-being in the face of adversity. Implications for future research and practice are considered. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.
... The Constructed Meaning scale measures the experience of having a long-term condition [48]. The scale has 8 items measured on a 4 point response scale ('strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree') and has evidence of reliability and validity [48][49][50][51]. ...
Patient empowerment is viewed by policy makers and health care practitioners as a mechanism to help patients with long-term conditions better manage their health and achieve better outcomes. However, assessing the role of empowerment is dependent on effective measures of empowerment. Although many measures of empowerment exist, no measure has been developed specifically for patients with long-term conditions in the primary care setting. This study presents preliminary data on the development and validation of such a measure.
We conducted two empirical studies. Study one was an interview study to understand empowerment from the perspective of patients living with long-term conditions. Qualitative analysis identified dimensions of empowerment, and the qualitative data were used to generate items relating to these dimensions. Study two was a cross-sectional postal study involving patients with different types of long-term conditions recruited from general practices. The survey was conducted to test and validate our new measure of empowerment. Factor analysis and regression were performed to test scale structure, internal consistency and construct validity.
Sixteen predominately elderly patients with different types of long-term conditions described empowerment in terms of 5 dimensions (identity, knowledge and understanding, personal control, personal decision-making, and enabling other patients). One hundred and ninety seven survey responses were received from mainly older white females, with relatively low levels of formal education, with the majority retired from paid work. Almost half of the sample reported cardiovascular, joint or diabetes long-term conditions. Factor analysis identified a three factor solution (positive attitude and sense of control, knowledge and confidence in decision making and enabling others), although the structure lacked clarity. A total empowerment score across all items showed acceptable levels of internal consistency and relationships with other measures were generally supportive of its construct validity.
Initial analyses suggest that the new empowerment measure meets basic psychometric criteria. Reasons concerning the failure to confirm the hypothesized factor structure are discussed alongside further developments of the scale.
... Entre los factores personales que se asocian a un mejor ajuste posdivorcio están: encontrarle sentido a la separación (Bevvino, D. y B. Sharkin, 2003); ser iniciador del divorcio (Kincaid, S. y R. Caldwell, 1991); bajo nivel de actividades previo y posteriormente al divorcio (Thabes, V., 1997); percibir control sobre los acuerdos relacionados con la custodia de los hijos (Yilmaz, A. y H. Fisiloglu, 2005); creer en una religión (Greef y van Der Merwe, 2005); tener actitudes favorables hacia el divorcio y una nueva relación sentimental con alguien (Wang, H. y P. Amato, 2000). Otros moderadores son algunas características de la personalidad tales como la expresión de las emociones y el sentido de coherencia (Berman, W. y D. Turk, 1981, Stewart, J., 2005), entre otras variables. ...
Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar una revisión de la literatura concerniente al ajuste psicosocial en hombres y mujeres adultos que han experimentado un divorcio. Aunque existe una tradición sólida al respecto desde varias disciplinas de las ciencias sociales, y hay con-siderables avances sobre los distintos aspectos que involucran la vida postseparación, la abrumadora mayoría de los estudios se ha llevado a cabo en el contexto norteamericano, de modo que son escasos los trabajos con muestras provenientes de México y publicados en español. En este país, las tasas de divorcio se han incrementado sostenidamente, de manera absoluta y relativa, desde la década de 1970. Sin embargo, los estudios al respecto no han crecido a la par, convirtiendo a la disolu-ción conyugal en uno de los aspectos menos explorados del fenómeno familiar en México. Por tal motivo, se hace necesario llevar al lector de habla hispana una revisión del estado del arte sobre la adaptación a la separación. Se espera que lo vertido en las siguientes páginas estimule la investigación sobre el tema y, en consecuencia, se cuente con infor-mación para diseñar intervenciones basadas en evidencia objetiva. Abstract The purpose of this paper is to review the literature related to psycho-social adjustment of men and women who have experienced divorce.
... husband/wife and parent). When one loses an important relationship, the structure of marriage routines disintegrates, as do the routines of everyday life (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003). ...
The aim of this study was to examine how socioeconomic resources (level of education and evaluation of economic situation), cognitive resources (sense of coherence), emotional resources (the quality of relationship with the ex-spouse and the existence of a new romantic relationship), and perceived stress contribute to explaining the adjustment of Israeli women to divorce. Adjustment to divorce was examined along four dimensions: self-acceptance of divorce, disentanglement of the love relationship, symptoms of grief, and self-evaluation. The research sample consisted of 114 divorced Jewish women, all of whom had retained custody of their children. Among the resources examined, the contribution of sense of coherence to explaining adjustment to divorce was particularly significant, followed by the existence of a new romantic relationship. Furthermore, resources were found to interact with perceived stress in explaining women's adjustment to divorce.
... For instance, women usually have more extramarital relationships providing social support after stressful life events (Cargan & Whitehurst, 1990). Furthermore, they are more likely to initiate divorce (Hewitt, Western, & Baxter, 2006), to see more positive consequences of divorce (Bevvino & Sharkin, 2003), and to be satisfied with divorce settlements (Sheets & Braver, 1996) than are men. Finally, there are studies in which no gender differences in reaction and adaptation to divorce could be detected (e.g., Williams, 2003). ...
Unemployment, divorce, and marriage are common life events for most people in Western societies. In a longitudinal study, the authors investigated how these life events affect life satisfaction when they occur repeatedly. Data came from the German Socio-Economic Panel, a large-scale representative panel study, and were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Results showed that, in general, life satisfaction decreases with repeated unemployment (sensitization). For repeated divorces, life satisfaction is higher at the second divorce than it had been at the first divorce (adaptation). Finally, life satisfaction is similar at repeated marriages. Neuroticism, extraversion, and gender accounted for interindividual differences in changes in life satisfaction. For instance, the general sensitization pattern associated with repeated unemployment was less pronounced for women. The authors also found main effects of age and the duration of the first event on general differences in life satisfaction. Finally, those with repeated events generally report lower life satisfaction than those with only one occasion of these events, even before the first event actually occurred. Findings show that repeated events can have very different effects on life satisfaction that depend on the nature of the event.
Within Islamic teachings, divorce is approached with caution, viewed as a last resort when all efforts at reconciliation between a couple have been exhausted. However, Islam also recognizes that some marital differences may become too insurmountable to resolve. In such cases, the dissolution of the marriage must be carried out with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering focus on mutual respect and the well-being of all parties involved—especially the children. This chapter explores the pivotal need to transition from single motherhood to co-parenthood, guided by the timeless principles of fairness, mutual support, and shared responsibility that are woven throughout the Islamic tradition. Through this lens, the authors identify five fundamental tenets for successful co-parenthood after divorce: prioritizing children’s emotional stability above all else, fostering effective communication and cooperation between former spouses, respecting each other’s roles as parents, maintaining consistency in upbringing rooted in Islamic values, and embracing flexibility and adaptability as new challenges arise. The article also offers guidance to divorced parents seeking to navigate the complexities of co-parenthood within an Islamic context. Recommendations include prioritizing ongoing, open communication and collaboration, seeking support from community resources and religious leaders, and thoughtfully embracing technological advancements that can facilitate effective co-parenting. Advancements in technology and evolving societal attitudes provide fertile ground for further research and open dialogue around this vital issue. By continuing to explore the intersection of Islamic teachings with the contemporary realities of divorce and co-parenting, will collective understanding be achieved and tailored interventions developed to support divorced parents in fostering healthy, harmonious co-parenting relationships?
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the psycho-education program developed based on the Cognitive Behavioral Theory on the emotional/social adjustment levels of divorced women. In this context, a real experimental model with a control group, in which pretest-posttest-follow-up measurements were made, was used. The experimental process of the research started with 15 women in both groups, but as a result of the experimental losses during the experiment, the group process was completed with 12 women in the experimental group and 11 women in the control group. The data of the study was collected through Fisher Divorce/Separation Adjustment Scale-Short Form and Personal Information Questionnaire. As a result of the research, it was found that the psycho-education program developed based on the Cognitive Behavioral Theory was effective in increasing the post-divorce adjustment of divorced women. At the same time, the psycho-education program was effective in reducing women's grief reactions, emotional separation from the relationship, anger reactions and increasing their self-worth. No significant differences were observed in the control group. In the follow-up measurements performed five weeks later, it was observed that the effectiveness of the psycho-education program continued.
This study investigates the effect of an emotion-focused group counseling program (EFGCP) on the emotional awareness and psychological well-being of divorced women. It also investigates their opinions regarding its effectiveness. This mixed-method study used a real experimental design with a 2 × 3 pretest–post-test control group with follow-up tests. It administered 16 EFGCP sessions to the experimental group and collected quantitative data from the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale and Psychological Well-being Scale and qualitative data from client and group leader diaries and focus group interview forms. The quantitative data were analyzed using a mixed 2 × 3 repeated-measure analysis of variance, while the qualitative data were examined using content analysis. Quantitative findings showed that EFGCP increased the emotional awareness levels of divorced women in the experimental group compared with those in the control group. This effect continued for 3 months, and while it improved their psychological well-being, the improvement was not significant. Meanwhile, qualitative results were grouped under two categories: “contribution” and “emotion-focused group counseling.” The contribution category included four themes, namely, emotional awareness, psychological well-being, adaptation after divorce, and metaphors. However, the emotion-focused group counseling category included techniques, group leader, and recommendations for group structure themes. Implications for further research and practice are discussed in light of the literature.
Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the life experience of divorced men and women in coping with divorce. Methods: This qualitative study was performed using phenomenological methodology. The research was conducted using purposive sampling of divorced individuals in Shiraz during 1398-99. Finally, after conducting 22 semi-structured interviews, data saturation was reached. The interviews were analyzed using the phenomenological methodology. Results: In this study, 3 main themes and 12 sub-themes were obtained, which are: 1- Family is an effective source in achieving adaptation, 2- Individual resilience, and 3- Social resilience. The theme of family as a source includes 2 sub-themes: Emotional support, material support (acceptance, sympathy, housing, etc.), individual resilience theme including 5 sub-themes of mourning, connection to spirituality, accepting divorce, moving towards excellence, controlling emotions (thanksgiving, accepting current living conditions, planning for the future, growing positive emotions, etc.). The theme of social inclusion includes 2 sub-themes of personal growth, earning income and financial independence (strengthening individual skills, earning income and economic stability, etc.). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the need for comprehensive attention to the issues of divorced men and women after separation and to take effective measures to empower them to achieve adaptation to the conditions after separation.
Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the life experience of divorced men and women in coping with divorce. Methods: This qualitative study was performed using phenomenological methodology. The research was conducted using purposive sampling of divorced individuals in Shiraz during 1398-99. Finally, after conducting 22 semi-structured interviews, data saturation was reached. The interviews were analyzed using the phenomenological methodology. Results: In this study, 3 main themes and 12 sub-themes were obtained, which are: 1- Family is an effective source in achieving adaptation, 2- Individual resilience, and 3- Social resilience. The theme of family as a source includes 2 sub-themes: Emotional support, material support (acceptance, sympathy, housing, etc.), individual resilience theme including 5 sub-themes of mourning, connection to spirituality, accepting divorce, moving towards excellence, controlling emotions (thanksgiving, accepting current living conditions, planning for the future, growing positive emotions, etc.). The theme of social inclusion includes 2 sub-themes of personal growth, earning income and financial independence (strengthening individual skills, earning income and economic stability, etc.). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the need for comprehensive attention to the issues of divorced men and women after separation and to take effective measures to empower them to achieve adaptation to the conditions after separation.
Bu çalışmada kadınların boşanma sonrası yaşama uyum deneyimlerinin ve öznel algılarının uyum düzeyleriyle ilişkisinin nitel olarak değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmacı, resmi boşanmasının üzerinden en fazla iki yıl geçen ve çocuk velayetini alan 12 kadınla yüz yüze görüşmeler yapmıştır. Bu görüşmelerde yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmış ve görüşmeler yaklaşık bir saat sürmüştür. Araştırma sonucunda boşanma sonrası yaşama uyum ile ilgili altı kapsayıcı tema ortaya çıkmıştır. Bunlar; (a) Boşanma sonrası yaşamda yeni roller ve ilişkiler (b) Boşanma ve boşanma sonrası yaşamla ilgili tutum (c) Eski eşle devam eden ilişkiler (d) Sosyal destek algısı (e) Sosyal işlevsellik (f) Kendilik algısıdır. Araştırmanın sonuçları, boşanmış kadınların yeni bir yaşam kurma sürecinde çocuklarla, eski eşle ve yakın çevreyle ilişkiler-sınırlar-yeni roller, boşanma ve boşanma sonrası yaşama yüklenilen anlam ve romantik ilişkiler gibi alanlarda desteklenmeleri gerektiğinin önemine işaret etmektedir.
Boşanma, kararın alınması ve boşanma işlemlerinin sürdüğü dönemlerin yanı sıra boşanma sonrası dönemi de kapsayan stresli bir yaşam dönüşümü sürecidir. Bu süreç, yaşamın neredeyse tüm alanlarını etkilemekte ve hayat koşullarında birçok değişimi beraberinde getirmektedir. Boşanan birey, bir yandan boşanmanın gerçekliğiyle yüzleşir ve ortaya çıkan duygular ve baş edilecek değişimler olduğunu fark eder. Diğer yandan, yeni kimliğine ve yaşam tarzına doğru geçişe odaklanır. Güncel istatistikler hem dünyada hem de ülkemizde boşanma oranlarındaki artışı gözler önüne sermektedir. Dolayısıyla boşanma sürecinin uyum açısından ele alınması önemli görünmektedir. Boşanma ve boşanma sonrası uyum sürecini anlamak amacıyla ileri sürülen pek çok yaklaşım bulunmaktadır. Bu yaklaşımlar, boşanma sonrası uyumu açıklama konusunda farklılaşsa da uyumu boşanma sürecinden ayırmamaktadır. Buradan hareketle, bu gözden geçirme çalışmasının çeşitli amaçları bulunmaktadır. İlk olarak güncel boşanma oranları ve boşanmanın hukuki, ekonomik, sosyal, toplumsal, psikolojik ve fizyolojik sağlık açısından sonuçlarına yer verilecektir. Ardından, boşanma ve boşanma sonrası uyumu açıklayan yaklaşımlar ve uyumun değerlendirilmesi açıklanacaktır. Boşanma ve boşanma sonrası uyumun kapsamlı bir şekilde ele alınmasının boşanan bireyin uygun bilgi ve desteğe erişimini kolaylaştıracağı düşünülmektedir. Ayrıca boşanma ve boşanmaya uyum ile ilgili sürecin doğru anlaşılması araştırmalar açısından da faydalı olacaktır.
The aim of the study was to analyze the role of ego-resiliency in maintaining psychological well-being after divorce among the initiators and non-initiators of marital breakup. The sample consisted of 157 divorced individuals, 64.70% of whom were initiators, and 35.30% non-initiators. Our findings indicate that ego-resiliency mediated completely the relationship between the sense of loss and grief associated with divorce and the psychological well-being in the subgroup of divorce non-initiators. In the subgroup of divorce initiators, such mediation effect is statistically insignificant. The study confirms the importance of ego-resiliency for the psychological adjustment of people after divorce, especially for non-initiators of divorce.
Divorce, symbolically speaking, may be viewed as the “death” of a marital relationship. During post-divorce guidance the counsellor should, amongst other things, allow the divorcee to mourn this relationship loss, facilitate a process where the dissolution of
marriage is reframed to unearth opportunities for constructive and personal growth, and to support the divorcee in terms of healthy post-divorce adjustment. This paper proposes a programme for facilitating post-divorce adjustment. Schlossberg’s Transition
Process Model (1981) is adopted, amongst others, as foundational framework informing the subject matter of the post-divorce
guidance programme with the foci of this programme being informed by and based on the post-divorce recovery groups facilitated by
the author.
Divorce, symbolically speaking, may be viewed as the “death” of a marital relationship. During post-divorce guidance the counsellor should, amongst other things, allow the divorcee to mourn this relationship loss, facilitate a process where the dissolution of marriage is reframed to unearth opportunities for constructive and personal growth, and to support the divorcee in terms of healthy post-divorce adjustment. This paper proposes a programme for facilitating post-divorce adjustment. Schlossberg’s Transition Process Model (1981) is adopted, amongst others, as foundational framework informing the subject matter of the post-divorce guidance programme with the foci of this programme being informed by and based on the post-divorce recovery groups facilitated by the author
Fragestellung: Ein negativer Zusammenhang zwischen Depressivität und dem Kohärenzgefühl (SOC) kann als belegt gelten. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird geprüft, ob sich Defizite im SOC als Begleitphänomen der depressiven Symptomatik einstellen oder ob sich zwischen vulnerablen und nicht-vulnerablen Personen auch außerhalb der depressiven Phase Unterschiede im SOC nachweisen lassen. Diese Fragestellung wird in drei Studien bearbeitet. Methode: In Studie 1 wird die Abhängigkeit des SOC von der aktuellen Stimmung untersucht, indem eine Gruppe nicht-klinischer Probanden (N=42) randomisiert einer von zwei experimentellen Bedingungen zugewiesen wird, in denen positive oder negative Stimmung induziert wird. Als abhängige Variable wird das SOC erfasst. In Studie 2 wird im Rahmen einer Fragebogenstudie die Abhängigkeit des SOC von depressiver Symptomatik untersucht. In Anlehnung an das „remitted depression paradigm“ wird das SOC einer Gruppe akut depressiver, remittiert depressiver und vormals nicht depressiver Personen (jeweils N=12) verglichen. Studie 3 betrachtet auf Basis einer Fragebogenuntersuchung mit einer nicht-klinischen Stichprobe (N=91) mögliche Mediatoren des Zusammenhangs von SOC und Depression. Ergebnisse: Studie 1 belegt, dass der Zusammenhang zwischen SOC und Depressivität nicht auf einem einfachen Stimmungseffekt beruht. Das SOC erweist sich als invariant gegenüber der Stimmungsmanipulation. Eine deutliche Zustandsabhängigkeit des SOC zeigt sich in Studie 2, die ein schwächeres SOC bei den akut depressiven im Vergleich zu den remittiert depressiven Personen nachweist. Das SOC der remittiert depressiven Personen bleibt jedoch hinter dem der gesunden Vergleichsgruppe zurück. Studie 3 zeigt Zusammenhänge zwischen dem SOC, der Neigung zu Assimilation und Akkomodation sowie zu Rumination. Schlussfolgerung. Die Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass das SOC einen Protektivfaktor in der Ätiologie depressiver Störungen darstellt, der während einer depressiven Episode einen Zusammenbruch erleidet.
The topic of women divorced at midlife without children is one that has, to date, been absent from professional and academic literature, though these women make up a considerable and growing portion of our population. This book explores the experience, meaning, and impact of divorce at midlife for women without children, and provides insights into the unique stressors and issues confronting these individuals so that the practitioner can better anticipate and meet their needs. Clinical considerations and case examples will be presented via the narrative stories of women who have experienced this unusual role in a world that is still primarily centered on marriage and mothering.
This study examines whether Revenue Procedure 2003-61 is an improvement over Revenue Procedure 2000-15, in the areas of taxpayers' expectations for IRS equitable relief decisions and gender-related in-group bias. The survey instrument includes a vignette adapted from a judicial decision. The results show that Rev. Proc. 2003-61 does improve upon Rev. Proc. 2000-15. Furthermore, taxpayers perceive different expectations of what the IRS should do and what the IRS would do in equitable relief decision making. Also, gender-related in-group biases are found to be present for both genders. Tax policy implications regarding equitable relief are discussed.
Although the prevalence of divorce in South Korea has greatly increased since late 1990s, the impact of divorce on the parents of adult children in Korean families has received very little attention. This is particularly unfortunate because of the emphasis in Korean culture on family cohesion and obligations. To address these issues, we explored in our study the well-being of the parents of divorced adult children as well as intergenerational relationships among the members of Korean families. Total 113 parents participated (39 males and 74 females), age ranged from 46 to 65. Of the total participants surveyed, 29% were parents of divorced children (N=33), with the remainder having children in intact marriages (N=80). The measures examined four areas: (1) demographics, (2) parental psychological well-being, (3) intergeneration relationships, and (3) parental perception of their adult child's marital experience. A series of MANOVA and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Our findings indicate important differences between parents of divorced children and parents of non-divorced children on overall well-being, interpersonal relationships, and parental perception, which is consistent with previous studies. Parents of divorced children in this study also reported lower level of intergenerational relationships compared to parents of nondivorced children. Parent-grandchild relationships seem to be particularly important for parental well-being. In addition, we found an unexpected association between parents and their relationship with their former children inlaws. More detailed discussion was discussed.
Facework and resilience frameworks were employed to examine threats to, and the protection of, marital partners’ identity during divorce and as they relate to outcomes associated with divorce. Divorced participants (N = 103) reported on the communicative face threats and support during divorce, reporting greater positive face threat and negative facework during divorce. The non-initiator experienced negative outcomes, including negative face threat and negative emotion, but reported no differences in stress when compared to the initiator or mutual decision makers. In addition, positive face threats and facework during divorce predicted post-divorce relationships. Specifically, low positive face threat and high positive face support were related to divorcees’ inclination to engage in positive interpersonal relationships after the divorce.
This article examines the association between features of legal proceedings in divorce and the emotional adjustment of divorced persons among a heterogeneous, mixed-gender sample of 312 divorced Muslim Palestinian citizens of Israel. The findings show that legal factors had only a limited association with the emotional adjustment of the respondents. The only legal factor studied that contributed significantly to the respondents' adjustment was their satisfaction with the duration of the legal process. Neither satisfaction with treatment of the case nor with the legal representation made a significant contribution. Nor did any of the objective features of the process: initiation, prior attempts to resolve the conflict, prior suits for divorce, representation in court, or the actual duration of the court proceedings. In contrast, socio-demographic factors and post-divorce life changes did have an impact. Being better educated, employed, and male predicted better adjustment, as did having remarried and having better housing conditions than before the divorce.
Divorce is a personal experience, often negative, and each couple experiences it differently. However, the divorce experience may provide opportunities for personal growth. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the challenges and growth opportunities women who have divorced experience from their own perspective. Ten women with similar backgrounds participated in personal interviews. Individual interviews revealed the following themes: (a) dating reflections, (b) married life, (c) self-perceptions, (d) support or lack of support, (e) family, (f) personal emotions, (g) personal growth, and (h) the future. Mezirow's (2000)27.
Mezirow , J. 2000. Learning as transformation: Critical perspective on a theory in progress, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. View all references theory of transformational learning was the framework used to organize the findings to understand growth through transitional phases. This article presents the findings of this study and implications for women going through divorce.
Researchers have recently begun to challenge long-standing views of grief and have called for new approaches to help understand the phenomenon. In this vein, the present study examined the impact of bereavement on people's basic assumptions about themselves and their world. Three categories of assumptions were explored: Benevolence of the World, Meaningfulness of the World, and Self-Worth. Twenty-one undergraduates who had recently lost a parent and 21 matched controls were compared on a series of objective measures; in addition, the bereaved sample also participated in lengthy semistructured clinical interviews. Assumptions about meaning emerged as an important variable, both in distinguishing between the bereaved and control samples and also in accounting for differences in the grief responses of the bereaved. Compared with matched controls, the bereaved subjects were significantly less likely to believe in a meaningful world. Further, within the bereaved sample, the greater the subjects' ability to fin...
The object of this study is to examine the extent to which males and females are converging in their divorce experience. We consider the issue of the convergence by examining both quantitative and qualitative data gathered from a survey questionnaire containing 189 close-ended items and 3 open-ended items administered to 268 persons in Indianapolis. The divorce expericnce is conceptualized along four dimensions: (1) lifestyle, (2) attitude toward married life, (3) life after divorce, and (4) adjustment to divorce. We demonstrate in the quantitative analysis that there is a weak to moderate difference in three of four dimensions between the male and female experience of marital breakup. There is only a demonstrable convergence in the views of males and females in the fourth dimension, adjustment to divorce. The qualitative section examines responses to the open-ended question, "What seems to be the best thing that has happened after your divorce?" While about half of the response categories show similarities between males and females, there are some differences in the ways in which males and females reconstruct their identities in the process of adjustment.
Reigning measures of psychological well-being have little theoretical grounding, despite an extensive literature on the contours of positive functioning. Aspects of well-being derived from this literature (i.e., self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth) were operationalized. Three hundred and twenty-one men and women, divided among young, middle-aged, and older adults, rated themselves on these measures along with six instruments prominent in earlier studies (i.e., affect balance, life satisfaction, self-esteem, morale, locus of control, depression). Results revealed that positive relations with others, autonomy, purpose in life, and personal growth were not strongly tied to prior assessment indexes, thereby supporting the claim that key aspects of positive functioning have not been represented in the empirical arena. Furthermore, age profiles revealed a more differentiated pattern of well-being than is evident in prior research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Proposes a theory of cognitive adaptation to threatening events. It is argued that the adjustment process centers around 3 themes: A search for meaning in the experience, an attempt to regain mastery over the event in particular and over life more generally, and an effort to restore self-esteem through self-enhancing evaluations. These themes are discussed with reference to cancer patients' coping efforts. It is maintained that successful adjustment depends, in a large part, on the ability to sustain and modify illusions that buffer not only against present threats but also against possible future setbacks. (84 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Describes some of the major demographic trends in the field of marital disruption and provides an analysis of the evidence linking separation and divorce with a wide variety of physical and emotional disorders. Separation and divorce appear to be profoundly stressful life events. Hypotheses that have been advanced to account for the strong associations between marital disruption and emotional disorder are critically examined. Studies of problems faced by persons undergoing marital disruption and studies of remedial programs are evaluated, and major unresolved issues are discussed. (4½ p ref)
The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between victims' attributions of causality for their accidents and their ability to cope with severe misfortune. A total of 29 individuals who had been paralyzed in serious accidents were intensively interviewed. Both quantitative and open-ended questions were used to elicit attributions of blame and causality by respondents; coping scores were obtained from a social worker and a nurse familiar with each respondent's case. Findings suggested that blaming another and feeling that one could have avoided the accident were successful predictors of poor coping; self-blame was a successful predictor of good coping. The question, "Why me?" was posed by all respondents, and 28 of the 29 related specific hypotheses that they entertained to explain why the accident had happened to them. Their responses seemed to illustrate the respondents' need for meaning in explaining the selective incidence of the accident.
Although a large number of studies show a correlation between marital status and mental health, the relative magnitude of the relationship, as compared to the strength of the relationship of other variables related to mental health, is not known. In this empirical evaluation, it is shown that in the present data, marital status is the most powerful predictor of the mental health variables considered. Data are then used to show that it is the quality of a marriage and not marriage per se that links marriage to positive mental health. The paper concludes with a discussion of some of the psychological functions of marriage.
This longitudinal study examined the interactive influences of psychological resources and contextual factors on short-term adaptation to community relocation in a sample of older women (N = 102, mean age = 71.6). The effects of three psychological resources (environmental mastery, autonomy, and personal growth) and three contextual factors (pressure to move, difficulty of the move, and unexpected gains experienced) on emotional reactions to relocation were examined. The pattern of findings suggests that women with greater psychological resources were more resilient in the face of negative circumstances but that the emotional "boost" of unexpected gains was greatest for women with lower premove resources. These results underscore the importance of considering event-relevant psychological resources and contextual factors and including both negative and positive aspects of the adaptational process.
The finding that women report and exhibit higher levels of psychological distress than men has puzzled stress researchers for years (Dohrenwend & Dohrenwend, 1976; Gove & Tudor, 1973; Kessler & McRae 1981; Link & Dohrenwend, 1980). Three major explanations have been offered. The methodological artifact explanation suggests that women are socialized to be more expressive and therefore will admit more emotional symptoms than men in response to standard psychological distress scales (e.g., Newmann, 1984). The stress-exposure argument suggests that women face more stressors in general or more severe, persistent stressors than men (e.g., Gove, 1972; Kessler & McLeod, 1984; Aneshensel & Pearlin, 1987). The vulnerability argument suggests that women lack coping resources, such as high self-esteem, a sense of mastery, or appropriate coping strategies for handling the stressors to which they are exposed (Kessler & Essex, 1982; Pearlin & Schooler, 1978; Turner & Noh, 1983).
Previous research has separately documented positive (Taylor, 1983) and negative (Janoff-Bulman, 1989) changes in beliefs following victimization. An integration of these literatures is proposed, considering the coping responses of the victim, the area of belief examined, and attributes of the victimizing event as mediators of change valence. Fifty-five cancer patients were interviewed concerning changes experienced in self-views, views of the world, future plans, relationships, and activities/priorities following diagnosis. Changes in activities/priorities and relationships were primarily positive, whereas changes in views of the self, the world, and the future were affectively mixed. Active coping was associated with positive belief changes, as was use of multiple coping methods. In addition, respondents experiencing ongoing threat reported more negative changes than did those not under threat. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Although specific victimizations may differ, there appear to be common psychological responses across a wide variety of victims. It is proposed that victims' psychological distress is largely due to the shattering of basic assumptions held about themselves and their world. Three assumptions that change as a result of victimization are: 1) the belief in personal invulnerability; 2) the perception of the world as meaningful; and 3) the view of the self as positive. Coping with victimization is presented as a process that involves rebuilding one's assumptive world. Introductions to the papers that follow in this issue are incorporated into a discussion of specific coping strategies adopted by victims.
This study offers prospective data on the psychological well-being of men and women before and after a marital separation, in comparison with a control group who remained married during the same period. Data were gathered as part of the Minnesota Family Health Study on a primarily middle-class White sample. Primary variables were current psychological well-being, self-esteem, mastery, substance use, and family income. Findings were quite different for men and women. Prior to separation, men in the disrupted group had lower psychological well-being scores than the continuously married group had, but showed no declines in any of the measures in the follow-up period. Separated women scored lower than did women from continuing marriages on psychological well-being prior to the separation, and they declined further afterwards. Separated women also increased their use of alcohol and other substances, and experienced a decline in family income. Findings are discussed in terms of the social causation hypothesis and the social selection hypothesis for understanding the relationship between divorce and mental health in adults.
Although marriage, divorce and the adjustment to divorce impact sequentially on an increasing number of Americans, research activities in these three domestic areas have generally proceeded in isolation from one another. In an effort to bridge the explanation of these interrelated events with common variables, this study reformulates, expands and tests the usefulness of Lewis's and Spanier's theory of marital quality and marital stability for the prediction of divorce adjustment. The theory's three major variables, the quality of the marital relationship, the level of alternative attractions and the amount of external pressure experienced to remain married are each assessed for their ability to predict subsequent divorce adjustment in a sample of 216 recently divorced persons.
This study sought to clarify those factors related to successful adjustment at different times during the divorce process. A longitudinal research design was used to study three diverse sam- ples of women in the process of adaptation. Certain variables previ- ously found to predict adjustment, such as the woman's a e and the f presence of children, were not significantly associated wit the mul- tiple indicators of adjustment used in this study. Sex role attitudes, social isolation, and inter-spouse acrimony emerged as stronger cor- relates of adjustment. The predictive power of several variables changed over time, emphasizing the importance of controlling the length of separation for a given sample.
Predictions from cognitive theories of adjustment to victimization were tested in two groups: stroke patients and their caregivers. Consistent with these approaches, a substantial proportion of respondents reported searching for a cause, asking themselves "Why me?" and finding meaning in the event. Multiple regression analysis revealed that, even when the effects of the severity of the stroke were controlled for, finding meaning had the positive effects proposed by a cognitive approach. A concern with the selective incidence of the event was associated with poorer adjustment, but being able to identify a cause was related to more positive outcomes. Those who held themselves responsible for the stroke were more poorly adjusted when the effects of severity of the stroke were controlled for. The results suggest that future researchers make a careful distinction between causal attributions for a negative event, selective incidence attributions ("Why me?"), and responsibility attributions. They appear to have different implications for adjustment following a traumatic event.
People whose homes were damaged or destroyed by a fire were surveyed immediately after the fire and 1 year later. It was predicted that finding positive meaning in that traumatic event would be associated with better coping and with less blame to others for the event. Five ways of focusing on the positive were measured in this study: finding side benefits, making social comparisons, imagining worse situations, forgetting the negative, and redefining. As expected, positive revaluators coped better and were somewhat less likely to blame others. Two alternative explanations for these relationships—amount of loss incurred and social desirability—were considered, but analyses did not lend support to these interpretations. The longitudinal analysis indicated that one's initial cognitive orientation toward an event such as a fire appears to be fairly stable: There were few changes in positive meaning or blame during the year following the fire.
Twenty-two women who wished to continue their pregnancies were interviewed several months after their first miscarriage. Levels of anxiety and depression showed an extremely high degree of variability. Cognitive processes in the form of a search for meaning, mastery and self-enhancement hypothesised to be important in adaptation to negative events were assessed. Having an explanation for the miscarriage and the experience leading to a general reappraisal of values were associated with lower levels of intrusive thoughts. A belief in a medical cause was linked to lower anxiety. Women believed that neither they themselves nor their doctors could exert much influence over the outcome of future pregnancies. Stronger belief in personal control was associated with higher anxiety levels. There is a need to consider not only the emotional consequences of miscarriage but also the cognitive mediators influencing such responses and although based upon a small sample this study initiates that process.
In addition to biological activity and cancer treatment, psychosocial considerations may influence both the quality of survival and its length. The investigators used information from psychological autopsies of cancer deaths, and correlated observed survival (measured in months beyond expected survival) with psychosocial findings. Patients who lived significantly longer tended to maintain cooperative and mutually responsive relationships, especially towards the end of their lives. Patients with death wishes, depression, apathy, and long standing mutually destructive relationships survived for shorter periods than expectable. Why longevity occurs in some patients, but not in others, may be related to different traits which create alienation in personal life and in caretaking staff as life draws to a close. More assertive patients ask for and get better attention and services, and as a result, may live longer and die better deaths.
• As the title suggests, this book examines the psychology of interpersonal relations. In the context of this book, the term "interpersonal relations" denotes relations between a few, usually between two, people. How one person thinks and feels about another person, how he perceives him and what he does to him, what he expects him to do or think, how he reacts to the actions of the other--these are some of the phenomena that will be treated. Our concern will be with "surface" matters, the events that occur in everyday life on a conscious level, rather than with the unconscious processes studied by psychoanalysis in "depth" psychology. These intuitively understood and "obvious" human relations can, as we shall see, be just as challenging and psychologically significant as the deeper and stranger phenomena. The discussion will center on the person as the basic unit to be investigated. That is to say, the two-person group and its properties as a superindividual unit will not be the focus of attention. Of course, in dealing with the person as a member of a dyad, he cannot be described as a lone subject in an impersonal environment, but must be represented as standing in relation to and interacting with another person. The chapter topics included in this book include: Perceiving the Other Person; The Other Person as Perceiver; The Naive Analysis of Action; Desire and Pleasure; Environmental Effects; Sentiment; Ought and Value; Request and Command; Benefit and Harm; and Reaction to the Lot of the Other Person. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
• As the title suggests, this book examines the psychology of interpersonal relations. In the context of this book, the term "interpersonal relations" denotes relations between a few, usually between two, people. How one person thinks and feels about another person, how he perceives him and what he does to him, what he expects him to do or think, how he reacts to the actions of the other--these are some of the phenomena that will be treated. Our concern will be with "surface" matters, the events that occur in everyday life on a conscious level, rather than with the unconscious processes studied by psychoanalysis in "depth" psychology. These intuitively understood and "obvious" human relations can, as we shall see, be just as challenging and psychologically significant as the deeper and stranger phenomena. The discussion will center on the person as the basic unit to be investigated. That is to say, the two-person group and its properties as a superindividual unit will not be the focus of attention. Of course, in dealing with the person as a member of a dyad, he cannot be described as a lone subject in an impersonal environment, but must be represented as standing in relation to and interacting with another person. The chapter topics included in this book include: Perceiving the Other Person; The Other Person as Perceiver; The Naive Analysis of Action; Desire and Pleasure; Environmental Effects; Sentiment; Ought and Value; Request and Command; Benefit and Harm; and Reaction to the Lot of the Other Person. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
A critical feature of many undesirable life events is that they often shatter the victim's perception of living in an orderly, meaningful world. Many authors have suggested that following such outcomes, the search for meaning is a common and adaptive process. This paper explores the validity of that claim by considering data from a recent study of 77 adult women who were victimized as children: survivors of father-daughter incest. In the process, several central questions regarding the search for meaning are addressed. How important is such a search years after a crisis? Over time, are people able to make sense of their aversive life experiences? What are the mechanisms by which individuals find meaning in their negative outcomes? Does finding meaning in one's victimization facilitate long term adjustment to the event? Finally, what are the implications of an inability to find meaning in life's misfortunes?
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)
A 27-item checklist of reasons for divorce was administered to 207 men (aged 23–78 yrs) and 230 women (aged 21–68 yrs) divorcing in the mid-1980s. Factor analysis revealed 9 dimensions underlying the checklist responses. The most frequently cited factors were unmet emotional needs/growing apart, lifestyle differences or boredom with the marriage, and high-conflict demeaning relationships. Statistically significant sex, age, and socioeconomic differences were found. Correlates between the factors and individual psychological functioning, parental functioning, and the emotional ambiance of the divorce reflected diversity among the divorcing population and implications for legal and mental health practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
In this paper, I analyze the stigma associated with divorce. Drawing on interviews with 104 divorced women and men, I show how stigma attaches to the conditions surrounding divorce rather than to divorce as a general category. Various processes—including the splitting of friends and the development of accounts—lead at least one party to a divorce to feel blameworthy. Individuals who divorce see themselves as excluded from and devalued in informal social life. Finally, I suggest that the divorced participate in stigmatizing divorce: they themselves devalue others who are divorced and sustain the idea that to be married is to be “normal.” If we understand stigma as referring not simply to the realm of public sanctions but rather see it as emerging out of everyday experience, it is clear that the divorced continue to be stigmatized.
While research on adjustment to divorce has been extensive, the paucity of studies assessing stress before and after divorce has kept the relation between psychological stress and martial dissolution unclear. Conflicting findings cast some doubt on the utility of using a crisis model to study divorce. Analysis of three-wave panel data from a national sample of persons married in 1980 indicates that the crisis model is appropriate for understanding adjustment to divorce. Comparisons of divorced persons with married persons show a predivorce rise in stress which then returns to levels comparable to those reported by married individuals. No evidence was found supporting the idea that a high level of psychological stress is a general cause of divorce or that dissolution resulted in more or less permanent elevation of psychological stress. Findings support the hypothesis that predivorce resources and outlooks influence the amount of stress experienced in the two years immediately following divorce. Below median family incomes, no post-high school experience, and wife not in the labor force put divorcing individuals at a disadvantage. Individuals reporting few premarital troubles and beliefs in the immorality of divorce also appear to experience heightened stress in the two years following divorce.
Although research shows that marriage protects health, some argue that it protects men more than women. The paper explores this argument by examining the special case of the separated and divorced. If men benefit from marriage, then they should have greater health risk when marriage ends. Examining data on morbidity, mortality and mental health, we use ratio analysis to compare males and females. The findings do not provide consistent support for the prediction that marital dissolution has a greater effect on men than on women. Rather, it is type of health problem, severity and stage of greatest risk that varies by gender. Men have more of the severe health problems including mortality and hospitalization of all types. Women have more of the less severe health and mental health problems. Men and women differ in whether separation or divorce is associated with greater risk. We speculate about gender-linked experiences to explain these differences.
This study analyzes the ways 100 community-residing men and women aged 45 to 64 coped with the stressful events of daily living during one year. Lazarus's cognitive-phenomenological analysis of psychological stress provides the theoretical framework. Information about recently experienced stressful encounters was elicited through monthly interviews and self-report questionnaires completed between interviews. At the end of each interview and questionnaire, the participant indicated on a 68-item Ways of Coping checklist those coping thoughts and actions used in the specific encounter. A mean of 13.3 episodes was reported by each participant. Two functions of coping, problem-focused and emotion-focused, are analyzed with separate measures. Both problem- and emotion-focused coping were used in 98% of the 1,332 episodes, emphasizing that coping conceptualized in either defensive or problem-solving terms is incomplete- both functions are usually involved. Intraindividual analyses show that people are more variable than consistent in their coping patterns. The context of an event, who is involved, how it is appraised, age, and gender are examined as potential influences on coping. Context and how the event is appraised are the most potent factors. Work contexts favor problem-focused coping, and health contexts favor emotion-focused coping. Situations in which the person thinks something constructive can be done or that are appraised as requiring more information favor problem-focused coping, whereas those having to be accepted favor emotion-focused coping. There are no effects associated with age, and gender differences emerge only in problem-focused coping: Men use more problem-focused coping than women at work and in situations having to be accepted and requiring more information. Contrary to the cultural stereotype, there are no gender differences in emotion-focused coping.
A scale is presented that operationalizes the concept of meaning as it is constructed within the context of life-threatening illness. Development of the scale is based on a symbolic interactionist perspective. The reliability and validity of the scale are examined using a sample of 422 persons with a variety of types of cancer at specified points in the illness trajectory. The scale was found to have item-total correlations ranging from 0.50 to 0.73, all significant at P < 0.01, and a Cronbach's alpha of 0.81. A factor analysis indicated the total scale explained 57.3% of the variance. Evidence of the scale's validity was found in its ability to differentiate persons who were newly diagnosed as having non-metastatic cancer from those individuals experiencing the first recurrence of cancer and those with metastatic disease, as well as individuals experiencing a first remission from those experiencing a first recurrence or those with metastatic disease. In addition, using regression analysis meaning was found to be predicted by social support and specific coping strategies, and to be predictive of personal control, body image and psychological adjustment. A bi-directional relationship was demonstrated between the construction of meaning (primarily a cognitive phenomenon) and emotional response, which is congruent with the bi-directional relationship between cognition and emotion as proposed in the theory of Lazarus and Folkman.
Attributions about disability: Finding positive meaning following amputation
- D S Dunn
- S L Dutko
Two dimensions of meaning affecting reactions to stressful events. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association
- S Thompson
- B Morash