Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1999
Publication Title
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Abstract
Objective: To describe research on perceptions of children aged 6 and younger from 21 families of their parents' divorce, of its impact on their families, and of legal officials. Method: Semistructured play interviews were conducted during home visits as parents were conjointly interviewed as part of a larger study on divorce in legal context. Results: Children had much misinformation about divorce as an event and process. What they did know was often inappropriate, frightening, and confusing. They resented how the process 'ruined their parents' being friends any more' and proposed reforms based on their wishes and observations. Conclusions: Greater awareness is needed of the child's desire to be heard during the process, to feel safe and less lonely, and to stay in touch with both parents and extended families. Age-appropriate explanations of psychological and legal aspects of the divorce process are likely to support children's positive adjustment and mental health.
Keywords
Divorce, Legal system, Perceptions, Young children
Volume
38
Issue
12
First Page
1544
Last Page
1550
DOI
10.1097/00004583-199912000-00016
ISSN
08908567
Recommended Citation
Pruett, Kyle D. and Pruett, Marsha Kline, "Only God Decides': Young Children's Perceptions of Divorce and the Legal System" (1999). School for Social Work: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ssw_facpubs/71
Comments
Archived as published. Open access article.