Impact of Divorce and Mother’s Psychological Well-Being on Children’s Emotional, Behavioral, and Social Competences

Autori:

Anda Maria JURMA

Cod: ISSN: 1583-3410 (print), ISSN: 1584-5397 (electronic)
Dimensiuni: pp. 69-82

How to cite this article:

Jurma, A.M. (2015). Impact of Divorce and Mother’s Psychological Well-Being on Children’s Emotional, Behavioral, and Social Competences. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 48, 69-82.

Abstract:

Parental divorce was known for over 40 years as being the cause of some serious, long lasting behavioural, emotional, social and academic problems in children. The aim of this study was to identify the consequences of divorce upon children, mothers’ wellbeing and the parenting styles. We have studied a group of 79 children and adolescents selected from one school in Timisoara (Romania), aged between 7-15 years, and their mothers. The children were divided into two groups: 41 children and adolescents from divorced families and a control group of 38 children and adolescents from two parents (“normal”) families. The following instruments were used: Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure the children’s emotions, behaviour and social competencies; Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) to measure the mother’s psychological wellbeing; The Parenting Scale to identify the parenting style used by mothers in the educational process. The results showed that children from divorced families have more emotional problems compared with children coming from two parents families; the divorced mothers have higher scores at all psychological problems compared with married mother and are more likely to be over reactive or have more hostility in their parenting style, while the married mothers are more lax in their parenting style. Emotional and behavioural problems of children from divorced families were strongly correlated with their mother’s problems. In conclusion, the psychological wellbeing of divorced mothers have a certain influence on the child’s adjustment, and thus, on the ability of the children to cope with the divorce situation.