Family Functioning Factors Associated with the Adjustment of Children of Divorce

Data collected from 95 children of divorce and their custodial parents were based on the cildren's current mental health in relation to measures of family functioning. The study examined the predictive value of two instruments designed to assess family functioning (Family Assessment Device and Divorce Adjustment Inventory) in accounting for children's current functioning as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Three factors from the two family functioning instruments accounted for 48% of the CBCL variance. Factor structures for the DAI were found to be similar to those of an earlier study with divorced families. Children of divorce were found to be healthy when family roles were maintained and parents resolved their differences in ways that modeled coping skills and reduced post-divorce conflict.