1. Children and Divorce Transitions Reviewing the Risk and Resiliency Debates Dr Anne Graham

2. Introduction Overview of some of the complexities and debates concerning children and divorce Brief rationale for why it is important to explore methods and processes for including the views and perspectives of young people in decision making processes, and Shifting the discussion about children in divorce transitions from a focus on ‘risk’ to one of ‘resilience’

3. Key ideas… The views and perspectives of children are critical if we are to create social institutions (families, schools, legal systems, government and non-government services) that are responsive to children and young people Examine the assumptions we make about children, what they experience, what they say (and don’t say) and how the adapt to divorce transitions Engage methods and processes in our professional work that enable us to listen and learn from what children have to tell us Reflect more critically on whether, how and in what contexts participation in decision-making enhances children’s resilience

4. Children and Divorce Divorce transitions are now part of the fabric of many children’s lives Great deal of research on the effects of separation, divorce and remarriage on children Research subject of debate in relation to ideological, methodological and conceptual limitations Need to critically appraise research, particularly in regard to how it positions children as either victims or divorce or as active participants

5. Children and Divorce Overall, the findings are inconclusive and to some extent ambiguous. In addition, contextual changes of a historical, social, cultural, economic and legal nature invariably mean that children’s experiences of divorce will differ over time. Many factors interact to contribute to the adjustment of children and need to be viewed in combination. —Bagshaw, 1998, p2 Need to focus on ‘what we know, not just what we believe’. — Emery 1999, p1

6. Explanations Explanations cover a diverse range of issues including: –the effects of parental loss –the psychological adjustment of parents –conflict between parents –economic hardship –stressful events associated with the separation or divorce Discourses of ‘harmism’ and the child as victim

7. Children and Divorce Divorce presents challenges to the adaptive capacities of the child or adolescent. Many children do experience considerable sadness in the early stages of the separation and divorce, with anxiety, anger, resentment, confusion, guilt, loyalty tensions and somatic symptoms being common responses. —McIntosh, 2002 Such responses are not inevitable nor are they uniformly applicable to all children. —Pedro-Carroll, 2001

9. Promoting Resilience Why do some fare better in the face of divorce transitions than do others? Research primarily identifies factors associated with risk with much less research focusing on factors related to resilience —Emery & Forehand, 1996 ‘Resilience’ inserts a strengths-based discourse focused on children’s capacity not just their vulnerability ‘Emotional narratives…entangle or trap children in ways that do not promote resilience any may actively work against their development —Gorrell Barnes, 1999, p427

10. Resilience is defined as… ‘the maintenance of competent functioning despite an interfering emotionality’ — Garmezy, 1991, p.466

11. Promoting Resilience Key personal resources for resilient children appear to be: –social competence –problem-solving skills –autonomy –sense of purpose — Masten et al, 1990 Permission to ‘to and fro’ between accounts of their hurt and their desire to participate in the socio-emotional and legal processes taking place around them.

12. Promoting Resilience Lack of information and consultation may well be factors that inhibit children’s adjustment —Smith et al, 1997 The three major categories that contribute to identity formation and the development of resilience: –‘I am’ (self esteem) –‘I have’ (security) –‘I can’ (self-efficacy) — Grottberg, 1995

13. Protective Factors Identified in Research on Children and Divorce Individual FactorsFamily FactorsExtra-familial Factors Realistic appraisal of control Accurate attributions Active coping style Effective coping skills Protection from inter- parental conflict Psychological wellbeing of parents Solid, supportive parent- child relationships Authoritative parenting Household stability and structure Supportive relationship with positive adults Supportive networks; family, school, community Evidence-based preventive interventions, providing skills and training

14. Promoting Resilience Children gradually come to make sense of such issues through their conversations and social interactions with adults and peers. Marginalising the participation of children may well limit the coping resources of the child, particularly their ‘capacity to appraise’ —Rutter cited in Gorrell Barnes, 1999, p.436

15. And… Adequate information is important Having fears and anxieties addressed Reassurance they are not to blame Careful listening Validation of their feelings Help with overwhelming feelings Involvement and inclusion Continued routine activities Worden (1996)

16. Resilience & Participation Most children in this study: Felt information is vital in helping them understand, cope with and adapt Preferred ‘almost any’ dialogue to the uncertainty experienced through a lack of information and explanation Leaving them out tends to increase their ‘anxiety and upset’ and also hampers their attempts to ‘reach a new sense of balance or normality in their lives’ Robinson et al, 2004

17. Where to from here? What else do children and young people tell us about their capacity to participate in divorce transitions? How do/can we respond to these ideas?