Individual Differences in Children's Reactions to Divorce

Children from families undergoing parental separation or divorce were interviewed about their own reactions and adjustment to this disruptive event. The children's mothers were also asked to report on their own reactions, as well as their children's. A subgroup was observed in a play session. Data were used to examine the factor surrounding children who manifested more behavior problems and more recent physical illnesses. Mothers of children who exhibited more behavior problems reported more mood disturbances; if this group consisted of boys, they engaged in less interactive play. Illness had opposite relationships with other variables for boys and girls; boys with more illness had more interactive play sessions with their mothers, whereas girls with more illness had less interactive and more noncontingent play periods. Results are discussed in terms of the different meaning that stress reactions have for both boys and girls and their mothers.