Online Divorce Education: Learning from Participants Who Want More

Divorce education is designed for divorcing parents with minor children, and in a growing number of states, participation has become court-mandated to finalize a divorce. To increase accessibility, some states have adopted brief, online formats for divorce education programming. Evaluations are encouraging; however, less is known about how opinions on course length relate to participants’ views on the benefits of their participation. This study analyzed qualitative data from parents (n = 41) who thought their mandated divorce education course was too short. Results indicate that participants thought the course increased their knowledge of divorce-related matters. They also suggested improvements related to course content priorities. These findings may inform Extension specialists, family life practitioners, and program planners working to improve the delivery of online divorce education programs

Economic distress and perceptions of sexual intimacy in remarriage

IntroductionEconomic distress and the relationship stability of remarried couples has been subject to some exploration, but less emphasis has been placed on how economic distress among remarried couples impacts other relationship domains, particularly sexual intimacy.MethodsThrough the lens of multidimensional family development theory (MFDT), this study utilizes longitudinal data over a three-year period to examine the links between economic distress, couple engagement, relationship satisfaction, and perceptions of sexual intimacy among remarried couples (n = 1,161 couples; 97% White).ResultsThrough a dyadic structural equation model, results showed that wives’ report of economic distress was directly related to their self-rejection of a partner’s sexual advances. Findings also revealed gender differences in how both relationship satisfaction and couple engagement influenced one to accept or reject their partner’s sexual advances, with couple engagement acting as a significant predictor for wives. Relationship satisfaction was also found to explain (i.e., mediate) the relation between economic distress and sexual intimacy, but only for husbands.DiscussionImplications for further research and interventions designed to strengthen the relationships of remarried couples dealing with economic distress and intimacy issues are offered

Pathways Linking Interparental Conflict and Violence/Abuse to Family Processes

Interparental conflict has salient influences on family functioning and child development. Although traditionally viewed as a proxy for family disruption, recently, interparental conflict has been categorized as destructive (e.g., hostility, verbal and physical aggression) and constructive (e.g., respect, affection, progress toward resolution). Another category of maladaptive conflict that overlaps substantially with destructive conflict is intimate partner violence/abuse (IPV/A), a concept that captures physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as controlling behaviors by an intimate partner. The aim of this dissertation is to describe unique or conjoint implications of each construct on family processes. Specifically, the goal of the first paper is to empirically examine the association between verbally abuse behaviors of destructive conflict and physical aggression of IPV/A, and to identify quantitative differences of the links between each construct and children’s emotional insecurity, a construct that represents children’s emotional, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to the nature of interparental conflict. The main objective of the second paper is to test implications of constructive and destructive interparental conflict on family functioning (e.g., parenting, coparenting) across three different family configurations: married, cohabiting, and non-cohabiting couples. Finally, the goal of the third paper is to determine the influence of personality domain known as Conscientiousness on conflict strategies and parenting behaviors. The three papers included in this dissertation advance knowledge on interparental conflict in relation to family functioning and child development, and offer important practical implications for professionals working with families (e.g., therapists) and professional who develop and promote family-based interventions

Impact of Positive and Negative Socioemotional Behaviors on Remarital Instability

We examined the trajectories of remarried couples\u27 (N = 1161) positive and negative socioemotional behaviors, which reflect the expression of love versus hostility, in relation to remarital instability across the first 3 years of remarriage. The measures of behaviors included both self and partner reports. Guided by the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation model of marriage, we used multi-level modeling framework to test the proposed processes at between- and within-individual levels. Whereas self- and partner-reported positive behaviors predicted less remarital instability, self- and partner-reported negative behaviors predicted greater levels of remarital instability. Individual changes in self- and partner-reported positive behaviors related to less remarital instability and only changes in partner-reported negative behaviors were associated with increased remarital instability. Findings did not vary by gender or remarital profiles. The results provide support for the emergent distress model, suggesting that the path to remarital instability is rooted in gradually increasing negativity. Implications for practitioners are discussed

Constructive and destructive interparental conflict, parenting, and coparenting alliance

Guided by the spillover hypothesis of family systems theory, we used data from the Building Strong Families project to examine intrafamily relations between destructive and constructive interparental conflict, harsh and supportive parenting behaviors, and coparenting alliance across different family configurations: married, cohabiting, and noncohabiting (never married) parents. Our sample (N = 2,784 couples/parents) was racially diverse, low-income couples/parents who were unmarried at the conception of their child. All variables were measured when children were approximately 36 months of age. Interparental conflict was assessed through an instrument that included both parents' reported conflict in the relationship and the perception of the other parent's conflict behaviors. Parenting behaviors were measured through observational data and coparenting alliance was based on mothers' and fathers' reports. As expected, path analyses revealed that destructive interparental conflict was related to lower levels of coparenting alliance, whereas constructive interparental conflict was related to higher levels of coparenting alliance, for mothers and fathers. For fathers only, destructive interparental conflict related to harsh parenting, suggesting that paternal parenting is vulnerable to the quality of the relationship with the mother. None of the proposed associations differed by family structure. These findings suggest the need for intervention programs to focus on promoting adaptive conflict management behaviors rather than on family structure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Is One Hour Enough? Evaluating Utah\u27s Online Divorce Education Course Based on Course Length Satisfaction

Divorce education programs for couples with children have become mandatory in many states. State-specific courses vary in terms of delivery method and program length. Using data from 1,690 parents who participated in Utah\u27s online divorce education course, this study examined program effectiveness based on course length satisfaction. Overall, results suggest the program was effective in obtaining its objectives; however, comparisons between groups revealed significant differences between satisfied and dissatisfied participants across all measures. Participants dissatisfied with course length reported greater uncertainty and disagreement that the course increased their knowledge of divorce-related matters. Possibilities for future research on course length satisfaction and program effectiveness are discussed

Predicting Parenting and Stepparenting Difficulties Among Newly Remarried Parents

Positive parent-child relationships in cases of remarriage are associated with more harmonious stepfamily relationships; however, little research has focused on factors influencing parenting difficulties in early remarriage. In this study, we examine factors that are associated with parenting and stepparenting difficulties for newly remarried biological parents and stepparents from a family systems theory perspective. Regression analyses indicate that greater perceived marital stability was associated with fewer parenting difficulties for all parental roles, while premarital cohabitation was associated with fewer stepparenting difficulties for stepmothers. With the exception of biological mothers, number of dependent children was associated with greater parenting difficulties for all parental roles. Practical implications are discussed

Psychological Distress, Destructive Conflict, and Parenting among Residential and Nonresidential Fathers

We utilized the Determinants of Parenting process model to examine correlates of paternal parenting by father’s residential status. Data consisted of fathers (N = 1,784) who participated in a federally funded Responsible Fatherhood program. Study variables were assessed through fathers’ self-reports. Using a structural equation modeling framework, the results of multi-group analyses revealed differences in parenting by father’s residential status. For residential fathers, both psychological distress and destructive conflict related to less nurturance and involvement, and destructive conflict was a mechanism through which psychological distress promoted harsh parenting. Nonresidential fathers were less involved when destructive conflict was present. These findings underscore fathers’ sensitivity to the context of interpersonal relationships and suggest that fatherhood education programs address the needs of both residential and nonresidential fathers.12 month embargo; published online: 04 November 2022This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]