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Parental attitudes, child mental health problems and gender factor in the divorce process

Year 2024, Volume: 49 Issue: 1, 181 - 191, 29.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.17826/cumj.1382571

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between parental attitudes throughout and after the divorce process, child’s gender, and mental health. Another objective of this study was to explore factors that may potentially affect the occurrence and progression of psychopathological issues in children whose parents have divorced.
Materials and Methods: The study involved 129 children and adolescents, ranging in age from 2 to 18 years, whose parents had officially divorced. Information was gathered using both a Sociodemographic Information Form and a Divorce Questionnaire. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed based on the diagnostic criteria outlined in DSM-5.
Results: Majority of the sample (88.4%) exhibited one or more psychopathologies. The most prevalent psychopathology was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (57.4%). The sex of the child did not have a significant impact on the presence of psychopathology. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the age of the child at the time of divorce were associated with an elevated risk of psychopathology in the child, while being female decreased the risk of psychopathology.
Conclusion: Divorce can be a mentally challenging life event for parents and children. During this process, it can be beneficial to seek professional support for the child’s mental health to proactively identify and address situations that could potentially impact the child's mental well-being

References

  • Stallman HM, Ohan JL. Parenting style, parental adjustment, and co-parental conflict: Differential predictors of child psychosocial adjustment following divorce. Behav Chang. 2016;33:112-26.
  • Ongider N. Effects of divorce on children. Curr Approaches Psychiatry. 2013;5:140.
  • Geniş M, Toker B, Şakiroğlu M. Boşanmanın çocuklara etkisi, çocuğa söylenmesi ve ebeveyn yabancılaşması: Derleme çalışması. Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi. 2019;3:190-99.
  • Chen M, Yip PSF. Decomposing the crude divorce rate in five countries: Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, the UK, and Australia. Asian Popul Stud. 2018;14:137-52.
  • Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. Evlenme ve Boşanma İstatistikleri, 2019 https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Evlenme-ve-Bosanma-Istatistikleri-2019-33708#:~:text=Evlenen%20%C3%A7iftlerin%20say%C4%B1s%C4%B1%202019%20y%C4%B1l%C4%B1nda%20541%20bin%20424%20oldu&text=Bo%C5%9Fanan%20%C3%A7iftlerin%20say%C4%B1s%C4%B1%202018%20y%C (Accessed on 01.07.2021).
  • Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. Evened ve Boşanma İstatistikleri, 2020. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Evlenme-ve-Bosanma-Istatistikleri-2020-37211 (Accessed on 01.07.2021).
  • TBNA. Türkiye Boşanma Nedenleri Araştırması (Ed Turgut M). TC Aile ve Sosyal Politikalar Bakanlığı, 2014.
  • Moxnes K. Risk Factors in Divorce. Childhood. 2003;10:131-46.
  • Raley RK, Sweeney MM. Divorce, repartnering, and stepfamilies: A decade in review. J Marriage Fam. 2020;82:81-99.
  • Kelly JB, Emery RE. Children's adjustment following divorce: Risk and resilience Perspectives. Fam Relat. 2003;52:352-62.
  • Lee D, McLanahan S. Family structure transitions and child development: Instability, selection, and population heterogeneity. Am Sociol Rev. 2015;80:738-63.
  • Averdijk M, Malti T, Eisner M, Ribeaud D. Parental separation and child aggressive and internalizing behavior: An event history calendar analysis. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2012;43:184-200.
  • Anthony CJ, DiPerna JC, Amato PR. Divorce, approaches to learning, and children’s academic achievement: A longitudinal analysis of mediated and moderated effects. J Sch Psychol. 2014;52:249-61.
  • Roizblatt SA, Leiva F VM, Maida S AM. Parents’ separation or divorce. Potential effects on children and recommendations to parents and pediatricians. Rev Chil Pediatr. 2018;89:166-72.
  • Hashemi L, Homayuni H. Emotional sivorce: child’s well-being. J Divorce Remarriage. 2017;58:631-44.
  • Cano T, Gracia, P. The gendered effects of divorce on mothers' and fathers' time with children and children's developmental activities: A longitudinal study. Eur J Popul. 2022;10;38:1277-1313.
  • Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav Res Methods. 2007;39:175-91.
  • Diekmann A, Kurt S. Do parents of girls have a higher risk of divorce? An eighteen country study. J Marriage Fam. 2004;66:651–60.
  • Lundberg S, Rose E. Child gender and the transition to marriage. Demography. 2003;40:333-49.
  • Malhotra C, Sarda S, Wang G. The Relationship between children’s gender and the divorce rate. Deakin Pap Int Bus Econ. 2011;4:27.
  • Xu Q, Yu J, Qiu Z. The impact of children on divorce risk. J Chinese Sociol. 2015;2:1-20.
  • Kalmijn M, De Graaf PM, Poortman AR. Interactions between cultural and economic determinants of divorce in The Netherlands. J Marriage Fam. 2004;66:75-89.
  • Waite LJ, Lillard LA. Children and marital disruption. Am J Sociol. 1991;96:930-53.
  • Akgül Sarpkaya O. Boşanmış adınlarda toplumsal baskıya direnme stratejileri: Van rneği. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2013;6:29-50.
  • Aktaş Akoğlu Ö, Küçükkaragöz H. Boşanma nedenleri ve boşanma sonrasında arşılaşılangGüçlüklere ilişkin bir araştırma: İzmir ili örneği. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2018;29:153-72.
  • Kaya K, Eren GT. Boşanma ve erken boşanmaların artış nedenleri. Sosyal, Beşeri ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi. 2020;3:708-28.
  • Kağıtçıbaşı Ç. Yeni İnsan ve İnsanlar,10. Baskı. İstanbul, Evrim Yayınevi, 2014.
  • Jennings EA. Predictors of marital dissolution during a period of rapid social change: Evidence from South Asia. Demography. 2016;53:1351–75.
  • Odimegwu C, Akinyemi JO, De Wet N. Premarital birth, children's sex composition and marital instability among women in sub-Saharan Africa. J PopulRes (Canberra). 2017;34:327–46.
  • Knoester C, Booth A. Barriers to divorce: When are they effective? When are they not? J Fam Issues. 2000;21:78-99.
  • Schnor C, Pasteels I, Van Bavel J. Sole physical custody and mother's repartnering after divorce. J Marriage Fam. 2017;79:879-90.
  • Auersperg F, Vlasak T, Ponocny I, Barth A. Long-term effects of parental divorce on mental health - A meta-analysis. J Psychiatr Res. 2019;119:107-15.
  • Brown JH, Portes PR. Understanding gender differences in children’s adjustment to divorce: Implications for school counselors. J Sch Couns. 2006;4:EJ901143.
  • Hockenberry MJ. Family, social, cultural, and religious influences on child health promotion. Maternal Child Nursing Care. 5th ed. Canada: Elsevier Mosby. 2014:732-49.
  • Wamboldt MZ. Epidemiology, assessment, and treatment of children of divorcing parents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;55:27.
  • Fuller-Thomson E, Dalton AD. Gender differences in the association between parental divorce during childhood and stroke in adulthood: findings from a population-based survey. Int J Stroke. 2015;10:868-75.
  • Peris TS, Emery RE. A prospective study of the consequences of marital disruption for adolescents: predisruption family dynamics and postdisruption adolescent adjustment. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2004;33:694-704.
  • Amato PR, DeBoer DD. The transmission of marital instability across generations: Relationship skills or commitment to marriage? J Marriage Fam. 2001;63:1038-51.
  • Fischer T. Parental divorce and children’s socio-economic success: Conditional effects of parental resources prior to divorce, and gender of the child. Sociology. 2007;41:475-95.
  • StØrksen I, RØysamb E, Holmen TL, Tambs K. Adolescent adjustment and well-being: Effects of parental divorce and distress. Scand J Psychol. 2006;47:75-84.
  • Yulaf Y, Semerci Z. Comparison of psychiatric disorders between children with a history of parental divorce and parental death. Psychiatry Behav Sci. 2019;1.
  • Lansford JE. Parental divorce and children's adjustment. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2009;4:140-52.
  • Jeynes WH. The impact of parental remarriage on children: A meta-analysis. Marriage Fam Rev. 2006;40:75-102.
  • Huurre T, Junkkari H, Aro H. Long-term psychosocial effects of parental divorce: A follow-up study from adolescence to adulthood. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;256:256-63.
  • Jackson LJ, Fife ST. The impact of parental divorce: The relationship between social support and confidence levels in young adults. J Divorce Remarriage. 2018;59:123-40.
  • Demir-Dagdas T. Parental divorce, parent–child ties, and health: Explaining long-term age differences in vulnerability. Marriage Fam Rev 2021;57:24-42.
  • Whisman MA, Salinger JM, Sbarra DA. Relationship dissolution and psychopathology. Curr Opin Psychol. 2022;43:199-204.
  • Weiss B, Lavner JA, Miller JD. Self- and partner-reported psychopathic traits' relations with couples' communication, marital satisfaction trajectories, and divorce in a longitudinal sample. Personal Disord 2018;9:239-49.

Boşanma sürecinde ebeveyn tutumları, çocuk ruh sağlığı sorunları ve cinsiyet faktörü

Year 2024, Volume: 49 Issue: 1, 181 - 191, 29.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.17826/cumj.1382571

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada boşanma süreci ve sonrasında ebeveyn tutumları ile çocuğun cinsiyeti ve ruh sağlığı arasındaki ilişkilerin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Ebeveynleri boşanan çocuklarda psikopatoloji varlığı ve gelişimini etkileme potansiyeli olan faktörlerin incelenmesi ise çalışmanın bir diğer amacıdır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Yaşları 2-18 arasında olan ebeveynleri resmi olarak boşanmış 129 çocuk ve ergen dahil edilmiştir. Sosyodemografik form ve boşanma anket formu ile veriler toplanmıştır. Psikiyatrik tanılar DSM-5 tanı kriterlerine göre değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Örneklemin çoğunda (%88,4) en az bir ya da daha fazla psikopatoloji bulunduğu saptanmıştır. En sık saptanan psikopatoloji, dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu (%57,4) idi. Çocuklarda psikopatoloji varlığının çocuğun cinsiyetinden etkilenmediği görülmüştür. Çocuklarda psikopatolojinin olası yordayıcılarını belirleyebilmek adına yapılan lojistik regresyon analizinde boşanma sırasında çocuğun yaşının büyük olmasının artan psikopatoloji riskiyle ilişkili olduğu, kız cinsiyetten olmanın ise psikopatoloji riskini azalttığı bulunmuştur.
Sonuç: Boşanma hem ebeveynler hem de çocuklar için ruhsal olarak zorlayıcı bir yaşam olayı olabilir. Bu süreçte çocuğun ruh sağlığı için profesyonel destek alınması, çocuğun ruh sağlığı için risk yaratabilecek durumların önceden tespit edilerek gerekli önlemlerin alınması fayda sağlayacaktır.

References

  • Stallman HM, Ohan JL. Parenting style, parental adjustment, and co-parental conflict: Differential predictors of child psychosocial adjustment following divorce. Behav Chang. 2016;33:112-26.
  • Ongider N. Effects of divorce on children. Curr Approaches Psychiatry. 2013;5:140.
  • Geniş M, Toker B, Şakiroğlu M. Boşanmanın çocuklara etkisi, çocuğa söylenmesi ve ebeveyn yabancılaşması: Derleme çalışması. Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi. 2019;3:190-99.
  • Chen M, Yip PSF. Decomposing the crude divorce rate in five countries: Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, the UK, and Australia. Asian Popul Stud. 2018;14:137-52.
  • Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. Evlenme ve Boşanma İstatistikleri, 2019 https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Evlenme-ve-Bosanma-Istatistikleri-2019-33708#:~:text=Evlenen%20%C3%A7iftlerin%20say%C4%B1s%C4%B1%202019%20y%C4%B1l%C4%B1nda%20541%20bin%20424%20oldu&text=Bo%C5%9Fanan%20%C3%A7iftlerin%20say%C4%B1s%C4%B1%202018%20y%C (Accessed on 01.07.2021).
  • Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. Evened ve Boşanma İstatistikleri, 2020. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Evlenme-ve-Bosanma-Istatistikleri-2020-37211 (Accessed on 01.07.2021).
  • TBNA. Türkiye Boşanma Nedenleri Araştırması (Ed Turgut M). TC Aile ve Sosyal Politikalar Bakanlığı, 2014.
  • Moxnes K. Risk Factors in Divorce. Childhood. 2003;10:131-46.
  • Raley RK, Sweeney MM. Divorce, repartnering, and stepfamilies: A decade in review. J Marriage Fam. 2020;82:81-99.
  • Kelly JB, Emery RE. Children's adjustment following divorce: Risk and resilience Perspectives. Fam Relat. 2003;52:352-62.
  • Lee D, McLanahan S. Family structure transitions and child development: Instability, selection, and population heterogeneity. Am Sociol Rev. 2015;80:738-63.
  • Averdijk M, Malti T, Eisner M, Ribeaud D. Parental separation and child aggressive and internalizing behavior: An event history calendar analysis. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2012;43:184-200.
  • Anthony CJ, DiPerna JC, Amato PR. Divorce, approaches to learning, and children’s academic achievement: A longitudinal analysis of mediated and moderated effects. J Sch Psychol. 2014;52:249-61.
  • Roizblatt SA, Leiva F VM, Maida S AM. Parents’ separation or divorce. Potential effects on children and recommendations to parents and pediatricians. Rev Chil Pediatr. 2018;89:166-72.
  • Hashemi L, Homayuni H. Emotional sivorce: child’s well-being. J Divorce Remarriage. 2017;58:631-44.
  • Cano T, Gracia, P. The gendered effects of divorce on mothers' and fathers' time with children and children's developmental activities: A longitudinal study. Eur J Popul. 2022;10;38:1277-1313.
  • Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav Res Methods. 2007;39:175-91.
  • Diekmann A, Kurt S. Do parents of girls have a higher risk of divorce? An eighteen country study. J Marriage Fam. 2004;66:651–60.
  • Lundberg S, Rose E. Child gender and the transition to marriage. Demography. 2003;40:333-49.
  • Malhotra C, Sarda S, Wang G. The Relationship between children’s gender and the divorce rate. Deakin Pap Int Bus Econ. 2011;4:27.
  • Xu Q, Yu J, Qiu Z. The impact of children on divorce risk. J Chinese Sociol. 2015;2:1-20.
  • Kalmijn M, De Graaf PM, Poortman AR. Interactions between cultural and economic determinants of divorce in The Netherlands. J Marriage Fam. 2004;66:75-89.
  • Waite LJ, Lillard LA. Children and marital disruption. Am J Sociol. 1991;96:930-53.
  • Akgül Sarpkaya O. Boşanmış adınlarda toplumsal baskıya direnme stratejileri: Van rneği. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2013;6:29-50.
  • Aktaş Akoğlu Ö, Küçükkaragöz H. Boşanma nedenleri ve boşanma sonrasında arşılaşılangGüçlüklere ilişkin bir araştırma: İzmir ili örneği. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2018;29:153-72.
  • Kaya K, Eren GT. Boşanma ve erken boşanmaların artış nedenleri. Sosyal, Beşeri ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi. 2020;3:708-28.
  • Kağıtçıbaşı Ç. Yeni İnsan ve İnsanlar,10. Baskı. İstanbul, Evrim Yayınevi, 2014.
  • Jennings EA. Predictors of marital dissolution during a period of rapid social change: Evidence from South Asia. Demography. 2016;53:1351–75.
  • Odimegwu C, Akinyemi JO, De Wet N. Premarital birth, children's sex composition and marital instability among women in sub-Saharan Africa. J PopulRes (Canberra). 2017;34:327–46.
  • Knoester C, Booth A. Barriers to divorce: When are they effective? When are they not? J Fam Issues. 2000;21:78-99.
  • Schnor C, Pasteels I, Van Bavel J. Sole physical custody and mother's repartnering after divorce. J Marriage Fam. 2017;79:879-90.
  • Auersperg F, Vlasak T, Ponocny I, Barth A. Long-term effects of parental divorce on mental health - A meta-analysis. J Psychiatr Res. 2019;119:107-15.
  • Brown JH, Portes PR. Understanding gender differences in children’s adjustment to divorce: Implications for school counselors. J Sch Couns. 2006;4:EJ901143.
  • Hockenberry MJ. Family, social, cultural, and religious influences on child health promotion. Maternal Child Nursing Care. 5th ed. Canada: Elsevier Mosby. 2014:732-49.
  • Wamboldt MZ. Epidemiology, assessment, and treatment of children of divorcing parents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;55:27.
  • Fuller-Thomson E, Dalton AD. Gender differences in the association between parental divorce during childhood and stroke in adulthood: findings from a population-based survey. Int J Stroke. 2015;10:868-75.
  • Peris TS, Emery RE. A prospective study of the consequences of marital disruption for adolescents: predisruption family dynamics and postdisruption adolescent adjustment. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2004;33:694-704.
  • Amato PR, DeBoer DD. The transmission of marital instability across generations: Relationship skills or commitment to marriage? J Marriage Fam. 2001;63:1038-51.
  • Fischer T. Parental divorce and children’s socio-economic success: Conditional effects of parental resources prior to divorce, and gender of the child. Sociology. 2007;41:475-95.
  • StØrksen I, RØysamb E, Holmen TL, Tambs K. Adolescent adjustment and well-being: Effects of parental divorce and distress. Scand J Psychol. 2006;47:75-84.
  • Yulaf Y, Semerci Z. Comparison of psychiatric disorders between children with a history of parental divorce and parental death. Psychiatry Behav Sci. 2019;1.
  • Lansford JE. Parental divorce and children's adjustment. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2009;4:140-52.
  • Jeynes WH. The impact of parental remarriage on children: A meta-analysis. Marriage Fam Rev. 2006;40:75-102.
  • Huurre T, Junkkari H, Aro H. Long-term psychosocial effects of parental divorce: A follow-up study from adolescence to adulthood. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;256:256-63.
  • Jackson LJ, Fife ST. The impact of parental divorce: The relationship between social support and confidence levels in young adults. J Divorce Remarriage. 2018;59:123-40.
  • Demir-Dagdas T. Parental divorce, parent–child ties, and health: Explaining long-term age differences in vulnerability. Marriage Fam Rev 2021;57:24-42.
  • Whisman MA, Salinger JM, Sbarra DA. Relationship dissolution and psychopathology. Curr Opin Psychol. 2022;43:199-204.
  • Weiss B, Lavner JA, Miller JD. Self- and partner-reported psychopathic traits' relations with couples' communication, marital satisfaction trajectories, and divorce in a longitudinal sample. Personal Disord 2018;9:239-49.
There are 48 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Journal Section Research
Authors

Gülen Güler Aksu 0000-0001-9555-3916

Fethiye Kılıçaslan 0000-0002-8131-8859

Meryem Özlem Kütük 0000-0003-0353-3024

Ali Evren Tufan 0000-0001-5207-6240

Ozan Kayar 0000-0002-1269-3719

Fevziye Toros 0000-0001-5402-9157

Publication Date March 29, 2024
Submission Date October 28, 2023
Acceptance Date March 16, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 49 Issue: 1

Cite

MLA Güler Aksu, Gülen et al. “Parental Attitudes, Child Mental Health Problems and Gender Factor in the Divorce Process”. Cukurova Medical Journal, vol. 49, no. 1, 2024, pp. 181-9, doi:10.17826/cumj.1382571.