Parental Dissolution and the Transmission of Relational Instability for Adult Children of Divorce

This paper explores the ways in which divorce has an effect on adult children of divorce and their perception towards intimate relationships. Current research around the topic suggests that individuals raised in divorced families tend to develop less positive attitudes towards marriage, and more positive attitudes towards divorce. This concept stems from the types of experiences gained through an individual’s family-of-origin, this creates a clear indication surrounding the attitudes a child of divorce will carry through to their intimate relationships. I will discuss a common source of tension around ‘feeling caught’ between parents and the impact it has on communication and topic avoidance. The topic centers around the concept of relational uncertainty and its association to relational turbulence and reactivity. The portrayal of parental relationships influences the transmission of marital instability.

PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AFTER PARENTAL SEPARATION:

Research with adult children of divorce (ACD) has contributed to literature suggesting the adverse long-term effects of parental separation and divorce. The role of the parent-child relationship following parental separation, when a parents availability and support might well be especially important for a child, particularly if there is ongoing parental conflict, has received little empirical attention and was examined here.The present investigation was designed to assess ACDs retrospective ratings of their mothersand fathers parenting in the two years following parental separation. ACDs reports of each of their parents dating behaviors as well as the conflict they remembered between their parents during this period were also examined.The results of the present investigation indicate that ACD view their mothers and fathers parenting behavior in the two years following separation as an important factor related to their current relationships with each of their parents.