Family functioning was measured and compared between two groups of families attending
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services. One group consisted of families in which
father was compelled to be absent from the home for periods because of his occupation and
the other represented families where he was not required to be absent. The divorce
literature would suggest that father's prolonged absence would increase strain on the
remaining partner and lead to less cohesive family function resulting in higher levels of
distress in the child. Using the Family Assessment device and the Marital Adjustment
Scale, it was established that the families where father worked away for periods appeared
to have lower levels of dysfunction in areas including marital satisfaction, role definition
and overall family function. Both partners in the away group appeared to have more
secure attachment styles which supported a higher level of independence and self esteem,
although there was evidence that fathers were less integrated into the family structure. It
would appear that in the away group, father's success in his role as breadwinner was
significant in the success of the marital dyad for both partners but not simply as a function
of increased income. The heightened role clarity in this group appeared to meet the needs
of both partners despite the absence it creates. It was unclear from the data whether the
alternative structure had gradually developed through systemic process or had been
instigated initially as a chosen structure, although in most cases the arrangements pre dated
or coincided with marriage
