Adolescents whose parents are divorced: an interview study and ethnographic analysis

Eleven adolescents whose parents were separated or divorced were interviewed regarding their experiences. Emphasis was on their positive and negative experiences and their ways of coping with their problems. The interviews of these high school freshmen were systematically analyzed using Spradley’s ethnographic methodology. The 6 girls and 5 boys lived in maternal, paternal, and joint custody. Two of the adolescents had experienced death of a parent as well as divorce. The adolescents volunteered to participate in this study and were a non-clinical sample. Contrasts were drawn based on sex, age at the time of divorce, and availability of both parents to the adolescent. Differences in maturity and responsibilities followed sexually stereotyped patterns. Age at the time of divorce seemed to have little effect on their experiences. Availability of parents was important in providing continuity and stability. If the adolescent did not have access to both parents, other adults such as grandparents or other family members sometimes served a mediating function in the experiences of the family. An overriding theme for all of these adolescents was the need for stability and predictability in their families. Each had experienced losses of important major relationships and changes in family patterns. These losses threatened the stability needed. Their coping efforts involved ways to increase the stability and predictability in their lives. Many adolescents thought they were more mature as a result of their parents’ divorce. Some adolescents became closer to their families, assuming major household and childcare responsibilities. Others withdrew from family interaction and were very lonely. With stability in the family, these adolescents could focus on age-appropriate activities and continue developmental progress.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Family and Child Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Family and Child Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1986

Author dc:creator

• Birch, Dianne

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Thompson, Linda

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Eisenhart, Margaret A.
• Sawyers, Janet K.
• Seither, Frances G.
• Sporakowski, Michael J.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/49983

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/49983