An investigation into the effects of varying custody and access arrangements upon the emotional adjustment of children of divorce
Doctoral Thesis
1977
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
In recent years there has been a growing awareness of divorce as a significant sociological phenomenon. In spite of this, however, there has been a conspicuous lack of systematic empirical research aimed at examining the effects of divorce upon children. The present study arose out of many years of work in the psycho-legal field with children of divorce. During the course of this work the need for examining the effects of varying custody and access arrangements upon the emotional adjustment of children became increasingly apparent. This investigation represents the first reported attempt to compare systematically the adjustment of two groups of children: those awarded to their mother's custody, and those awarded to their father's custody. Furthermore, it examines for the first time the differential reactions of children to varying types of access arrangements. The orientation of the study is primarily clinical, the focus being on experiences reported retrospectively by the children themselves. The aim of the study was to suggest guidelines which would hopefully contribute toward preventing and alleviating stress in children of divorce. References cited in the text emanate from two main disciplines: psychology and law. As it was anticipated that members of both professions might be interested in this dissertation, it has at times been considered appropriate to define basic concepts in each field for the benefit of practitioners in the other. Most development in divorce-related research has taken place in the United States of America; consequently a major portion of the references cited emanate from that country. The principles and issues discussed in this thesis apply to the system of custody and access as it pertains in most Western countries.
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Bibliography: p. 344-362.
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Rosen, R. 1977. An investigation into the effects of varying custody and access arrangements upon the emotional adjustment of children of divorce. University of Cape Town.