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Adult children of divorce and interpersonal trust in close relationships
Author
Tan, Jacinda Yiqi
Supervisor
Tan, Soo Yin
Abstract
Changing family patterns and the emergence of single-parent families in Singapore served as the backdrop for the present study. As a result of these shifts in family patterns, the study was conceived to examine the long-term impacts of divorce on interpersonal trust. Specifically, the primary focus of the study was to determine the long-term impact of parental divorce on interpersonal trust in significant others and interpersonal trust in parents. A secondary aim of the study was to determine factors which moderated interpersonal trust difficulties with significant others.
A total of 106 respondents formed the sample group for this study. 53 respondents were adult children from divorced families and 53 respondents were adult children from intact families. The respondents provided demographic information and also completed three self-reports of the Dyadic Trust Scale. Results indicated that adult children from divorced families trusted both their parents less as compared to adult children from intact families. Additionally, adult children from divorced backgrounds trusted their fathers less as compared to their mothers. The results did not lend support to the hypothesis that interpersonal trust in significant others was disrupted as a result of having experienced a parental divorce.
The findings of the present study provided some useful insights into some of the long-term impacts of parental divorce on interpersonal trust in adult offspring. Additionally, the findings from the present study were also discussed in terms of how counselling psychologists and other like-minded professionals could intervene with this particular group of individuals to help them achieve effective interpersonal functioning. Suggestions were also made for future research.
A total of 106 respondents formed the sample group for this study. 53 respondents were adult children from divorced families and 53 respondents were adult children from intact families. The respondents provided demographic information and also completed three self-reports of the Dyadic Trust Scale. Results indicated that adult children from divorced families trusted both their parents less as compared to adult children from intact families. Additionally, adult children from divorced backgrounds trusted their fathers less as compared to their mothers. The results did not lend support to the hypothesis that interpersonal trust in significant others was disrupted as a result of having experienced a parental divorce.
The findings of the present study provided some useful insights into some of the long-term impacts of parental divorce on interpersonal trust in adult offspring. Additionally, the findings from the present study were also discussed in terms of how counselling psychologists and other like-minded professionals could intervene with this particular group of individuals to help them achieve effective interpersonal functioning. Suggestions were also made for future research.
Date Issued
2013
Call Number
HQ777.5 Tan
Date Submitted
2013