Parental Divorce and Child Well-being: A Meta-Analysis

Presenter Hometown

Belfry, KY

Major

Psychology

Department

Psychology

Degree

Undergraduate

Mentor

Richard Osbaldiston

Mentor Department

Psychology

Abstract

Forty to fifty percent of marriages in America result in divorce. This study examines the effects of parental divorce on child well-being (CWB). Twenty studies were located that reported the correlation between parental divorce and various factors of CWB. The effect sizes for each study were found and the weighted average effect size was computed. Parental divorce had a small to moderate effect on overall CWB (d = -0.35). Relations with others and self-esteem produced the most significant effect sizes of all of the CWB factors that were analyzed (d = -0.61 and -0.46, respectively). Parental divorce should continue to be studied on an individualistic basis to better understand the factors that lead to common long-term negative effects for the children involved.

Keywords: parental divorce, child, well-being, meta-analysis

Presentation format

Poster

Link to poster

Share

COinS
 

Parental Divorce and Child Well-being: A Meta-Analysis

Forty to fifty percent of marriages in America result in divorce. This study examines the effects of parental divorce on child well-being (CWB). Twenty studies were located that reported the correlation between parental divorce and various factors of CWB. The effect sizes for each study were found and the weighted average effect size was computed. Parental divorce had a small to moderate effect on overall CWB (d = -0.35). Relations with others and self-esteem produced the most significant effect sizes of all of the CWB factors that were analyzed (d = -0.61 and -0.46, respectively). Parental divorce should continue to be studied on an individualistic basis to better understand the factors that lead to common long-term negative effects for the children involved.

Keywords: parental divorce, child, well-being, meta-analysis