Preschool Age Children of Divorce: Transitional Phenomena and the Mourning Process^*

Abstract

The role of the family home as an attachment object was investigated in 57 preschool age children coping with the stress of a parental divorce. Results indicated that preschool age children of divorce exhibited an increased level of attachment to the family home as compared with children matched for age and socioeconomic status from intact family units who moved away from the family home. In addition, preschool age children who moved from the family home but show a high attachment to it demonstrate better behaviour adjustment than both the groups of children of divorce who showed low attachment after moving from the family home and the group who remained living in the family home after divorce (p less than .05).

Parental factors and the young child's postdivorce adjustment: A meta-analysis with implications for parenting arrangements.

“…Johnston and Campbell (1988) described toddlers in high-conflict families becoming passively “frozen” or more actively oppositional with tantrums and bossiness, unable to control their actions and feelings. Studies that looked at preschool children from divorcing families who are seeking mental health services have documented a range of symptoms from conduct disorders through withdrawn, anxious behaviors and cognitive problems (Brady, Bray, & Zeeb, 1986; Johnston & Campbell, 1988; Peretti & DiVitorrio, 1992; Stirtzinger & Cholvat, 1990). In contrast, studies of young children in highly cooperative joint-custody arrangements have reported children doing very well (McKinnon & Wallerstein, 1987; Steinman, Zemmelman, & Knoblauch, 1985).…”