Adaptation to Divorce: Problems and Coping Strategies

Recent research in the area of marital dissolution has attended primarily to the presence or absence of problems related to divorce without assessing the extent to which the problems influence the process of adjustment. Through multivariate techniques, the present study first examines the effect of divorce-related problems on perceived distress. Second, the role of various coping strategies in mediating distress is examined. The results indicate that only interpersonal and familial problems have a major effect on overall mood state. In addition, involvement in social activities, expressing feelings, and developing autonomy are highly related to greater post-divorce adjustment.