Question

Paola and Angelo are getting a divorce. They are worried about the long-term consequences this will have on their three children. You can tell them that the overriding factor in positive adjustment following divorce is ________?

1) the custody arrangement
2) temperament
3) combined household income
4) effective parenting

Answer 1

The most important factor for children to positively adjust to divorce is effective parenting, which includes maintaining strong parent-child relationships and appropriate custody arrangements that support the well-being of children.

Step-by-step explanation:

The overriding factor in positive adjustment following a divorce is effective parenting. It is crucial for children to maintain strong parent-child relationships to navigate the challenges of divorce. Research indicates several points:

• Proximity to parents and joint custody arrangements can contribute to a child's well-being, with boys showing less aggression when living with or having joint arrangements with their fathers and girls often being more responsible and mature when with their mothers (U.S. Census Bureau 2011b; Temke 2006).
• Despite the challenges of divorce, many adolescents still hold the ideal of a strong marriage and family life, as seen in the University of Michigan's survey where a majority of high school seniors valued a lifelong marriage (Popenoe and Whitehead 2007).
• Children's age can influence their reaction to divorce, with school-aged children struggling due to an incomplete understanding of the reasons behind the separation, while older teenagers may better understand the conflict but still experience negative emotions (Temke 2006).