Open Access, Peer-reviewed
eISSN 2093-758X
    J Korean Acad Nurs. 2010 Feb;40(1):127-138. Korean.
    Published online Feb 28, 2010.
    https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.1.127
    Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Nursing Science
    Original Article

    Development of a Structural Equation Model for Children's Adaptation in Divorced Families

    Sung Hee Shin
      • Part-time Lecturer, College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
    • Address reprint requests to: Shin, Sung Hee. College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea. Tel: 82-2-961-0312, Fax: 82-2-961-9398, Email: sunghshin@khu.ac.kr
    Received October 28, 2009; Accepted February 04, 2010.

    Abstract

    Purpose

    This study was designed to develop and test a structural model for children's adaptation in divorced families. The hypothetical model was constructed based on the Family Resilience Model by McCubbin and McCubbin.

    Methods

    Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from 219 children (3-6th grade) in divorced families. The children attended one of 22 community agencies, 8 after-school programs, 3 elementary schools in three cities in South Korea. The collected data were analyzed using LISREL program to test the hypothetical model.

    Results

    The modified model was constructed by deleting four paths in accordance with the statistical and theoretical criteria. Compared to the hypothetical model, the revised one had a better fit to the data. Self-esteem, and beliefs about parental divorce had direct effects, and family communication and internal control had indirect effects on children's adaptation in divorced families. These variables explained 56% of the variance in children's adaptation.

    Conclusion

    The modified model was supported by empirical data. This model could be applied to family nursing interventions with divorced families or any other suffering family transition. When working with children experiencing parental divorce, it is important for nurses to enhance children's self-esteem, family communication and to decrease children's negative beliefs about parental divorce to help in their adaptation.

    Keywords
    Adaptation; Divorce; Children; Resilience; Family

    Figures

    Figure 1
    Testing for hypothetical model.

    *p<.05; **p<.01.

    X1=Cohesion; X2=Challenge; X3=Being control; X4=Spiritual pursuit; X5=Seeking help; X6=Open communication; X7=Problematic communication; X8=Friend's support; X9=Family's support; X10=Teacher's support; Y1=Positive self-esteem; Y2=Negative self-esteem; Y3=Internal control; Y4=Fear of abandonment; Y5=Self-blame; Y6=Adaptation.

    Figure 2
    Testing for modified model.

    *p<.05; **p<.01

    X1=Cohesion; X2=Challenge; X3=Being control; X4=Spiritual pursuit; X5=Seeking help; X6=Open communication; X7=Problematic communication; X8=Friend's support; X9=Family's support; X10=Teacher's support; Y1=Positive self-esteem; Y2=Negative self-esteem; Y3=Internal control; Y4=Fear of abandonment; Y5=Self-blame; Y6=Adaptation.

    Tables

    Table 1
    Descriptive Statistics for Observed Variables (N=219)

    Table 2
    Pearson Coefficient Correlations for Measured Variables (N=219)

    Table 3
    Lisrel Estimates for the Modified Model and Direct, Indirect and Total Effects

    Notes

    This article is a revision of the author's doctoral dissertation from Kyung Hee University.

    References

      1. Achenbach TM. In: Manual for the child behavior checklist 4-18 and 1990 profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry; 1991.
      1. Amato L, Keith B. Parental divorce and the well-being of children: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin 1991;110:26–46.
      1. Amato PR. Children's adjustment to divorce: Theories, hypotheses and empirical support. Journal of Marriage and the Family 1993 Feb;55:23–38.
      1. Bae BR. In: Lisrel structural equation model: Interative Lisrel. 2nd ed. Seoul: Chunglam Publishing; 2005.
      1. Bae J. Causal relationships between school adjustment of middle school students and related variables. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2008;38:454–464.
      1. Barens H, Olson DH. In: Parent-adolescent communication, family inventories. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press; 1982.
      1. Cho SA. In: Differences in risk factors and protective factors according to the level of psychological maladjustment of children of divorce. Daegu: Keimyung University; 2004.
        Unpublished master's thesis.
      1. Coopersmith S. In: Coopersmith self-esteem inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1975.
      1. Dubow EF, Ulman DG. Assessing social support in elementary school children: The survey of children's social support. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology 1989;1:52–64.
      1. Emery R. In: Postdivorce family life for children: Postdivorce family. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 1999.
      1. Han MH. In: The relation of stress and perceived social support to problem behavior. Seoul: Seoul National University; 1996.
        Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
      1. Han SS, Kim KM. Influencing factors on self-esteem in adolescents. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2006;36:37–44.
      1. Hetherington EM. The role of individual differences and family relationships in children's coping with divorce and remarriage. In: Cowan PA, Hetherington EM, editors. Family transitions. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1991. pp. 163-192.
      1. Hetherington M, Stanley-Hogan M. The adjustment of children with divorced parents: A risk and resiliency perspective. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 1999;40:129–140.
      1. Jeon BJ. Self-esteem: A test of its measurability. Yonsei Nonchong 1974;1:107–130.
      1. Joo SH. In: Study of the factors that influence child's adaptation after divorce in child's point of view. Seoul: Sungkyunkwan University; 2004.
        Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
      1. Kelly JB. Children's adjustment in conflicted marriage and divorce: A decade review of research. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2000;39:963–972.
      1. Kim SK, Kang MH. The path-analysis among riskprotective factors on the resilience of children from divorced family. Korean Journal of Child Studies 2005;26:261–278.
      1. A report of population and households. Korea National Statistical Office. 2009 [Retrieved December 10, 2009].
        from http://kosis.kr/metadata/main.jsp?c_id=1962004.
      1. Kurdek LA, Berg B. Children's beliefs about parental divorce scale: Psychometric characteristics and concurrent validity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1987;55:712–718.
      1. Lee YA. In: A study of perceived family adaptation in patient with chronic renal failure. Seoul: Yonsei University; 1995.
        Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
      1. Leske JS, Jiricka MK. Impact of family demands and family strengths and capabilities on family well-being and adaptation after critically injury. American Journal of Critical Care 1998;7:383–392.
      1. Lin SI. Coping and adaptation in family of children with cerebral palsy. Exceptional Children 2000;66:201–217.
      1. McCubbin MA, McCubbin HI. Families coping with illness: The resiliency model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation. In: Danielson CB, Bisell BH, Fry PW, editors. Families, health, and illness: Perspectives on coping and intervention. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 1993. pp. 21-63.
      1. McCubbin MA, McCubbin HI, Thompson AI. Family hardiness index (FHI). In: McCubbin HI, Thompson AI, MaCubbin MA, editors. Family assessment: Resiliency, coping and adaptation-Inventory for research and practice. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin; 1986. pp. 239-305.
      1. McCubbin HI, Olson D, Larsen A. Family crisis oriented personal evaluation scales (F-COPES). In: McCubbin HI, Thompson AI, MaCubbin MA, editors. Family assessment: Resiliency, coping and adaptation-Inventory for research and practice. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin; 1981. pp. 455-507.
      1. Min HY. In: Circumplex model and parent-adolescent communication. Seoul: Yonsei University; 1990.
        Unpublished master's thesis.
      1. Min HY. In: The Influence of the perceived controllability of stress situation and locus of control on children's coping behaviors with hassles. Seoul: Seoul National University; 1999.
        Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
      1. Nam YO, Kim JH. A study on the factors influencing school resilience of adolescents in the alcoholic families. Korean Journal of Youth Studies 2003;10:199–221.
      1. Oh KJ, Lee HL, Hong KY, Ha EH. In: K-CBCL: Korean children behavior check list. Seoul: Chungangjucksung Publication; 1997.
      1. Rosenberg M. In: Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press; 1965.
      1. Sandler I, Kim L, Tein J. Locus of Control as Stress moderator and mediator in child of divorce. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 1997;25:145–155.
      1. Sim MK. In: Testing of resiliency model of families of children with cancer. Seoul: Yonsei University; 2004.
        Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
      1. Stolberg AL, Mahler J. Enhancing treating gains in a school-based intervention for children of divorce through skill building, parental involvement and transfer procedures. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1994;62:147–156.
      1. Walsh F. In: Strengthening family resilience. New York, NY: Guilford; 1998.
    Cited by
    Crossref 2
    Google Scholar 
    Scopus 1
    Web of Science 1
    MeSH Terms
    Adaptation, Psychological*
    Divorce*
    Models, Theoretical*
    Child
    Communication
    Family Relations
    Female
    Humans
    Male
    Problem Solving
    Program Development
    Questionnaires
    Self Efficacy
    Social Support
    Metrics
    Share
    Links to
    Figures
    slide
    slide

    1 / 2

    Tables
    slide
    slide
    slide

    1 / 3

    PERMALINK