Adjustment to separation and divorce
Published: 1977
Language: eng
Format: computer file
Subjects: Divorce; Divorced people; Psychology
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the diversity of experience following the breakup of a marriage. The social, psychological, economic, and legal aspects of marital separation were addressed.

The sample comprised 205 respondents. Fifty were separated and 155 were already divorced. Ninety-one men and 114 women participated. The participants' ages ranged from 20 to 67 with a mean age of 33. All respondents were White. Of the divorces granted, 96% were uncontested. The participants had been separated between one and 26 months; and the average marriage lasted nine years, with a range of four months to 45 years.

A face-to-face structured interview was employed. The interview was divided into the following sections: background information about the marital interaction, relationship with spouse since separation, social network, legal matters, mental and physical health, sexual relationships, and economics. A follow-up study was conducted two years later (see Furstenberg, A726).

The Murray Center has acquired computer-accessible data from this and the follow-up study.
Notes: Sample characteristics: sample size: 101-500; time: 70s; race: White; age: 18-22, 23-29, mixed; number of generations: 1; gender: female, male; ses: mixed.

Data collection methods: design: field study; length of data collection: na; measures: interview.

Follow-up possible: no; follow-up available: yes.