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111 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What major factors are responsible for creating single – parent family systems?
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How does divorce affect parents as individuals and as caregivers?
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How are children affected by parental divorce?
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What important issues relate to child custody decisions? |
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What are the characteristics of a single parent family headed by a woman and single-parent family headed by a man? How is parenting conducted in each of these systems? |
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What major adjustment issues are encountered and single-parent families? What kind of support are available to these families?
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What stressors and coping mechanisms are
revealed by a systemic family development snapshot of a single parent family? |
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What is the most ideal family situation in a
traditional view? |
Man is provider and will that is
housewife/caretaker of children Depicted as most acceptable and best scenario (TV and media) |
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How has this view changed over the past 30 – 40 years?
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This traditional image has increasingly become the minority in the US
Only 12% of all families in 2006 |
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What is this decline the result of?
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The demise of family values in society that are believed to promote maintenance of the
traditional family system The increasing rate of divorce |
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Divorce
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A stressful experience which produces a
disruption in the family system |
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What is the result of divorce?
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Single parent family
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Single-parent family
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Based on the former family system with
significant modifications 2 families have emerged from one One of the more common types of families in the US today Male or female parent or adult and 1 or for children under 18 years old |
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How is this not the full story about single-parent family systems? Why?
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Not necessarily the result of divorce because it is often unexpected or a purposeful decision
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What are the 3 possible causes of single parent family systems?
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Divorce, desertion, or separation
Death of an adult Giving birth to a child out of wedlock |
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Which parent has sole or primary custody in the majority of single parent families?
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The woman
There have been increases in single male headed households |
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What are the differences observed in a number of areas?
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Interaction patterns
Communication styles Parenting styles Behavior problems among children |
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What are the problems/difficulties due to?
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The lack of sufficient support
Lack of people to adequately perform the role needed in an efficient family When these roles are filled, even by others not residing in the home, difficulties lessen or diminish |
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Are there any advantages or benefits in
single-parent compared with married partnership? |
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What is the divorce rate in the US compared to
the rest of the world? |
The highest
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What percentage of children in the US will
experience the divorce of their parents spend an average of 5 years in a single-parent family? |
50%
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What are some problems that both divorce
single-parent and unmarried parents face? |
Financial strain, role overload, task overload
But also deal with custody arrangements, and social effects of divorce, moving to a new place, having to go to work or increasing hours at work |
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What do parents need to realize about children in the divorce process?
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They will likely be upset, sad, and angry
These negative feelings will increase if a parent tries to avoid telling them, or telling them in a way that does not take their feelings into account |
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How do experts believe that parents should tell their children about the divorce? Why is this
important? |
Parents should be together emphasizing even though the couple divorcing, they will always love their children very much and be there for them
Children will feel that their parents are united in telling them |
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What else should parents keep in mind when telling their children about their impending
divorce? Why is this important? |
Parents should tell the children the truth but not necessarily the whole truth
Make every effort to be nonjudgmental If they are lied to and discover the lie, parents lose credibility with their children at a time when credibility is very important |
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What is okay for parents to leave out telling their children about their impending divorce?
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Incidents of a personal nature that involve
another person the children now |
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How should the divorce situation be presented to the children?
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As a rational but bad decision
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When told of an impending divorce, how should children see their parents?
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As models of parents who admit they made a
serious mistake As responsible people who remain committed to the family and to the children even though they have decided to go their separate ways By seeing their parents expressed sadness at this solution, then children have the permission to born without hiding their feelings from the adults |
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What are some tips for moving?
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Once children have been told that one parent is moving out, the meeting outside occur within 2 – 3 weeks
Not telling children until the parent who is leading is about to go out the door is not ideal Telling children months before the apparently is also not ideal |
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Why is it is important for parents to approach in moving in this way with their children?
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The longer the parent stays in the home, the more likely the child will think the divorce isn't really going to happen
Young children may even forget what was said |
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What type of process is telling the children about divorce? Why?
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Ongoing
Questions will probably come up over a period of time Parents may get impatient because sometimes children ask the same question over and over again Children will wonder about the things that directly affect them |
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What are some specific things that children worry about when told of an impending divorce?
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Will they have enough food to eat
Will they have to attend a new school Who will braid their hair when they visit daddy |
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What are 4 effects of divorce on families?
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Family metacognition
Physical separation Family system reorganization Family redefinitions |
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What happens in family metacognition?
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Adults no longer share similar feelings of love and attachment
The system acknowledges that divorce is imminent Acknowledges sadness and even hate |
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Describe physical separation occurs in divorcing families.
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Disruption of the family system usually
involving removing the father from the family system Dismantling of boundaries, rules, behavior patterns, and roles that make the former system operate effectively |
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How can the physical separation specifically
affect the child or children? |
Can leave children with feelings of abandonment
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What happens during the family system
reorganization? |
Divorce adults forge a new relationship with their children
There are different rules, roles, and interaction patterns |
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What happens when the family redefines itself?
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As the new single-parent family system takes form and assumes higher degree of effective functioning, the system is perceived differently by the members and by the noncustodial
parent |
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What are the adults' reaction to divorce?
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They see it s a solution to marital difficulties
Psychological Social Financial |
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How are the changes in psychologically adults going through divorce?
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Depression
Weight gain Weight loss Sleep disturbances |
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What are the 4 challenges and transformation in the spouse relationships?
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Visitation rights forces contact with former spouse
Children may perpetuate the remnants of the relationship by sharing information about one parent with the other and discussing life and events in their new family systems In joint custody, spouses are committed to making major decisions together that impact the child's welfare Parents attend to their own reactions and adjustments to the divorce but are also aware of their children's reactions |
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What are the 3 distinct stages in which children react and adapt to the divorce?
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Initial stage
Transition stage Restabilization stage |
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Initial stage
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Parents informed children of their decision
There are high levels of stress and emotion |
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What are some examples of the high levels of emotion in the initial stage?
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Sadness
Aggressive conflicts |
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When does the Transition stage occur?
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Commences about 1 year after the parents'
separation and last for up to 3 years |
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What happens during the transition stage?
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Emotions normalize
This is a restructuring process leading to a evolving the family pattern There's a change in the quality of life and the establishment of visitation routines |
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In the transition stage, what is the most difficult time?
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The first year
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When does the Restabilization stage occur?
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About 5 years after separation when new
single-parent family system or stepfamily has been instituted and have become more stable |
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What are the 3 influences of the parental divorce and the adjustment?
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Age and gender of the child
Availability and use of social support networks to help the child adjust Attitudes of the culture toward divorce and single parenthood |
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Who has the most difficult time during a divorce, boys or girls?
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Boys have a tougher time than girls adjusting to divorce
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What is the adjustment to divorce most
problematic? |
For adolescents
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Is the adjustment to the divorce harder on male or female adolescents?
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Female adolescents
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What are the 4 ways in which the effects of parental divorce can be on children?
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Short-term
Long-term Positive Detrimental |
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What are some ways in which divorced single parents try to make sure that their children do not crater on them?
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Is important to keep a watch on the children's feelings and behaviors both before, during, and after the divorce
Divorce has short and long-term effects on children |
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What are common emotional reactions to
divorce in children of all ages? |
Sadness
Fear Depression Anger Confusion Relief |
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How do these predominant emotions vary? What do these emotions require?
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With the child's age
Somewhat different reactions from parents |
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What are preschoolers' reactions to divorce?
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Worried that they caused the divorce
Handle with denial They may regress, begin wetting the bed, having temper tantrums, and developing fears Experience loss of confidence, self-esteem, and tend to see divorce is one parent leaving them |
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How are parents urged to treat preschoolers as they adjust to divorce?
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Communicate with the child about the divorce and explaining in simple language the reasons for change that occurs
Reduce the child's suffering by giving reassurance that the child's needs will be met and by doing concrete things such as arranging visits with the absent parent |
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How do 5 – 7-year-olds react to divorce?
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Problem reaction of a child this age is sadness, grief, and fear in which they are not old enough to arrange activities that will bring pleasure and some relief from the worry
The divorce dominates the top of the child this age because they worry that no one will love them or care for them Counseling may be useful because it provides a neutral third party to validate the child's feelings |
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What age group reacts most seriously to
divorce? |
There is an middle childhood (7 – 9-year-olds)
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How do children age 7 – 9-year-old react to parental divorce?
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They tend to be frightened and intensely
saddened by the divorce |
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How do children age 9 – 10-year-olds initially
react to parental divorce? |
With apparent acceptance but this masks
feelings of anger or intense hostility |
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What does research indicate about how long it takes children and middle childhood to adjust
divorce? |
About half adjust over the 1st year
Half have different degrees of depression, low self-esteem, poorer school performance, and poorer relationships with peers |
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What are the reactions of adolescents to
divorce? |
They have a much deeper understanding of
divorce They are more able to evaluate the situation objectively and arrive at a plausible explanation for parents' divorce |
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What are adolescents much less likely to do when their parents are divorcing?
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Harbor feelings of guilt or hostility toward their parents
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How exactly do the younger adolescents react to their parents' divorce?
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They may "act out" negative behaviors or
experienced personality changes Those that are experiencing changes in their bodies may feel the stress of divorce more strongly |
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What should parents make clear as their
adolescents adjust to their divorce? |
They value their child's relationship and time that with them and with the other parent
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What should did parents do as quickly as
possible following their decision to divorce? |
Work out a pair and practical timesharing
schedule which is either temporary or long-term |
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What should be done after they reach these time-sharing agreements? When this is not possible, what are 2 ways in which to make things go smoother?
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They should make every effort to live up to its terms
By telling each other in advance about necessary changes in plans By being reasonably flexible in "trading off" to accommodate the other parent's needs |
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How can parents prepare their children in a
positive way for each upcoming stay with the other parent? |
Parents do not conduct adult business when they meet to transfer the child
They refrain from using the child as a confidant, messenger, bill collector, or spy |
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What are 2 additional ways in which parents can support healthy child development after
divorce? |
Parents listen caringly encourage to work out problems with the other parent directly
Parents work on their problems with each other in private |
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What are 4 ways in which divorce affects
children and parents? |
Children experience the effects of divorce in ways that are more disruptive and stressful than those experienced by parents
Divorce is a process rather than an event and is experienced by the whole family system Divorce is both immediate and long-term effects on children, which vary by age at the time of divorce and their gender Children whose parents divorced during their developmental years the it at the milestone events and may shape many developmental aspects in their adulthood life |
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What are 3 strategies for divorced parents?
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The use of court mediation services which are professional counselors that help parents
explore children's and parents' needs, and help them reach agreement on a reasonable living arrangements Finding additional support in developing a network of family and friends you can be counted on is essential such as Parents Without Partners or group therapy sessions Volunteering time to a group, taking a class, or becoming involved in an organization helps get mind off situation |
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What percent of the time the mother's custody of the children? What can be result of mothers getting custody of the children?
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90% of cases
Role and task overload |
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Often, what happens to the noncustodial
parent? |
They start to fade out of the children's lives
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What are 3 reasons for noncustodial parents fading out of the children's lives?
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Child support doesn't get paid and custodial
parent refuses to let the noncustodial parent to see the children One parent may move away and not get to see the children often Custodial parent remarries and the new parent assumes responsibilities of the parent |
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What is the problem with child support?
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It often goes unpaid
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What percent of court awarded child support does not get paid?
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Nearly half
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What are the 3 reasons that the court awarded child support never gets paid?
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Sometimes the parent ordered to pay changes jobs frequently and it's hard to track down
Paperwork needs to be filled out each month at the payer's employer The payee can protest the amount and tie up things up in court for long periods of time |
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Often, what is child support for women with
custody of their children? |
The difference between being able to work and support their children and having to use public assistance
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Family Law Section of the American Bar
Association |
List several standards that court officials may
apply in determining the custody arrangements of children following the divorce of their parents |
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How is custody decided according to the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association?
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Should be awarded to either or both parents
according to the best interest of the child |
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According to the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association, when can child
custody be awarded to persons other than the father or mother? |
Whenever such award serves the best interests of the child
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When should the child's wishes about custody be considered by the court and given due weight according to the Family Law Section of the
American Bar Association? |
If a child is old enough and able to reason and form an intelligent preference
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What should any custody award be subject to
according to the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association? |
Modification or change to change whenever
interests of the child required justify such a change |
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According to the Family Section of the American Bar Association, what should be awarded to the noncustodial parent and to any person for the welfare child, at the discretion of the courts,
unless such rights are detrimental to the best interests of the child? |
Reasonable visitation rights
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When divorcing parents consider custody issues, what are the 5 factors frequently favor one
parent over the other? |
The preferences of the child
Whether or not a parent wants custody The perceived need to place a child with the same sex parent The perceived need to keep a child with mother because she may be the socially appropriate person for custody A parent's ability to provide stable, continued support in the same residence or geographical area |
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Joint custody
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Awarding the responsibility for child care and
supervision to both parents |
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What are the advantages of joint custody?
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More contact between ex-spouses
Fewer problems in securing the father's cooperation in meeting the financial support agreement Fewer feelings of being overwhelmed by childcare responsibilities More access to beneficial interactions between children and fathers which is typically not the case when mothers have sole custody |
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What are the disadvantages of joint custody?
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It is more expensive to maintain because each parent must supply housing, equipment, toys, food, and often clothing for children
It requires a degree of connection with ex-spouses that many people do not desire Requires that the adults are committed to maintaining discussions concerning child-rearing Constraints on relocation to another state can impair decision-making Children may feel confused and burdened by commitment to 2 family systems instead of 1 Children may have problems transitioning from one family system to another Disturbances in the relationships among the siblungs may occur to split living arrangements |
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Coparenting
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Is undertaken by 2 or more adults to take on the care and upbringing of children for whom they share responsibility
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Who is a coparent after divorce?
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Biological parents in binuclear families to take on the parenting roles based from 2 households because of divorce or separation
Stepparents in a postdivorce situation Unmarried parents may coparent from 2 separate homes |
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What should parents be doing when managing
coparenting arrangements? |
Establish new rules and boundaries regarding their coparenting relationship
Resist the temptation to involve children in the adult business of the divorce Many children feel obligated to take sides with one parent or the other, which is detrimental to all concerned Maintain open lines of communication to resolve differences |
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What are the majority of single-parent families in the US headed by?
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Women who have either never been married or are divorced
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What are some of the things divorced and
single-parent women appear to face? |
More economic and related employment
difficulties than men |
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What races/ethnicities have been found in the majority of these family units?
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Many are in Caucasian households
A substantial portion of all children born to single mothers in the US born to African-American and panic unmarried mothers |
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What are 3 statistics concerning the financial difficulties of single-parent families headed by mothers?
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1 and 3 single-parent families headed by women exists below the poverty level, as
compared with 1 and 10 2 – parent families A father's child support and maintenance payments are important sources of income and help provide an adequate standard of living Most have lower annual incomes than those headed by men due to the dependence on an adequate support payments and other factors, such as less education or fewer years in the labor force |
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What are the factors associated with role strain in the single-parent families headed by mothers? Why?
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Divorced women experienced different degrees of role strain from that experience by
divorced men Most women are granted full custody of children, they must function as the sole full-time parent in their new family system What was stressful in managing competing roles in a 2 – parent family system is even more stressful after divorce |
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What are the changes in the PC relationship in single-parent families headed by mothers?
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Children in family systems headed by single
parent mothers continue to experience adjustments difficulties 4 – 6 years following parental divorce in comparison with children whose mothers have remarried One effective role strain is the increased reliance on more authoritarian patterns of interacting with children A mother may transform the definition of her role, directly in relation to the oldest child, to that of a peer/partner in a way in which the mother may expect the child to be more mature than the developmental reality |
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What families constitute the majority of this type of family unit in the US?
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Single-parent families headed by fathers
although the percentage of families headed by men have increased only over the past 40 years |
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Do more boys or more girls live with their
custodial father? |
More boys than girls
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What do you fathers heading this type of family system do? What does this promote? What does this influence?
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Earn considerably higher incomes
A different standard of living The family's quality of life |
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How do single-parent families headed by fathers
compete in terms of adjustment concerns of children compared with custodial single-parent mothers? |
They have fewer
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What ideas are relatively new concerning
single-parent families headed by fathers? |
Men can conduct their parenting activities as
capably as women Children are not harmed by these experiences |
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What is this increasing acceptance of
single-parent families headed by fathers reflected in? |
The corresponding increase in the number of men who are were awarded custody of children following divorce
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What are 3 aspects of the single-parent father experiences?
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Greater financial freedom
Role strain Changes in the PC relationship |
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What are the 5 ways in which financial stability is reflected in single-parent families headed by
fathers? |
Single-parent fathers typically earn higher
incomes than single-parent mothers Fathers achieve greater economic security, partly ascribed to higher levels of education and more years of employment Advantages may place them at higher income levels and a more favorable financial situation after they become single-parents Discrepancies in income between single mothers and fathers account for many of the differences in the quality of life in the family systems Single-parent families headed by men tend to have fewer people being supported by the father's income in comparison to family headed by women |
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What are the 7 factors of role strain in
single-parent families headed by fathers? |
Single-parent fathers and single-parent
mothers experience role strain differently Many custodial fathers are likely to work longer hours while holding a full-time job, which can contribute to role strain Fathers report that shopping for food and preparing meals can be a major problem areas because many of them lack these skills Single-parent fathers may have difficulty synchronizing responsibilities into a manageable routine Single-parent fathers tend to share household management tasks with children rather than secure help from outside resources Fathers who do not share a home with their child face the risk of gradually fading from their child's life, other than for the obligatory child support Being a nonresidential, noncustodial father seems to increase men's risk of injury, addiction, and premature death |
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What are 2 important aspects that influence the role of nonresidential fathers in their
children's well-being? |
The first is the degree to which the children feel closer to their non-residential father and the degree to which the father is able and
willing to maintain contact with the child The second hinges on the degree of marginalization that nonresidential, noncustodial fathers experience with regard to their involvement with their children |
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What are 2 likely avenues for fathers to gain
custody of their children? |
Father asserts the right to custody because they feel capable and motivated to parent their children despite mother's testimony
Men may consent to assume custody when mother show no desire to continue their parental rights or are unable to do so because of physical or emotional problems |
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What are 6 strengths of single-parent families?
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The ability to incorporate parenting skills
traditionally found in 2 parent homes A positive attitude about the changes in family life Effective communications between family members Family management skills The ability to become financially independent There are a few differences between children raised by single parent mothers and single-parent fathers |
