DEFINING DIVORCE ADJUSTMENT: A STUDY OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS' CRITERIA FOR CONSTRUCTIVE LONG-TERM ADJUSTMENT TO DIVORCE
Abstract
This study involved the development of the Divorce Adjustment Inventory (DAI), an instrument to assess the importance of ten dimensions and related aspects of divorce adjustment to marriage and family therapists. DAI dimensions include: (1) Acceptance of the End of the Marriage. (2) Functional Postdivorce Relationship with the Ex-Spouse. (3) Emotional Adjustment. (4) Cognitive Adjustment. (5) Social Support and Adjustment. (6) Parental Adjustment. (7) Children's Adjustment. (8) Using Opportunities for Learning and Personal Growth. (9) Process and Outcome of the Settlement. And (10) General Life Adjustment and Physical Well-Being. DAI items and dimensions are based on the divorce adjustment literature and on the results of a study with an earlier form of the instrument. The items and dimensions are rated for their importance for long-term adjustment to divorce. DAI dimensions are also ranked in terms of their priority in therapy. The DAI was pretested and then sent in a mail survey to a simple random sample of 650 clinical members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). A reminder postcard was sent to all subjects, and two followup mailings of the DAI were sent to nonrespondents. A second DAI was sent to a simple random sample of 60 of the respondents. Three hundred and ninety-six (61%) of the subjects and 45 (75%) of the test-retest respondents returned useable questionnaires. The total group of respondents and the test-retest respondents were similar to each other, to the total mail sample, and to the AAMFT national membership on a number of characteristics. Results show that the importance ratings of the DAI dimensions have strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Priority rankings show more moderate test-retest reliability. Dimensions 1, 6, 7, and 9 are rated as the most important for constructive long-term adjustment to divorce, while Dimensions 2 and 9 are rated as the least important. Dimensions 1, 3, 6, and 7 are ranked as the highest priority in therapy and Dimensions 8 and 9 as the lowest priority when divorce involves children. Dimensions 1, 3, 4, and 5 are ranked as the highest priority and Dimensions 2 and 9 as the lowest priority when divorce does not involve children.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
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