What did Arditti find about the adaptation of children to divorce situations?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Most research on divorce has focused upon the effects of the divorce upon couples, and of
parents upon children. Arditti turns this pattern and looks at the roles that children might
perform for their divorced parents. She finds that not only do parents change their relations
with their children as a result of divorce, but also children may assume some of the role of
the absent spouse for the parent they live with. This is judged as a healthy phenomenon
that benefits both the parent and child, and is functional in their coping with the new family
structure.
While Arditti found that the parent remains the primary caregiver in the divorced
relationship, children may make their parent feel wanted and important just when their own
ego is in need of healing in life. Most children reported very close relationships with their
residential parent, perhaps of necessity for the survival of new family unit. Children (when
they get older) may become their parents "confidante" in relationships, comforting the
parent in the absence of the helpmate spouse. The "caregiving" activities of the parent may
in part be transformed by children to "friendship" activities and exchanges between the
parent and child, particularly as the child matures and contributes more to the relationship.
Parents in divorced family reported somewhat higher frequency of employment outside the
home for the residential parent, which also affects role relationships of family members.
Divorced mothers usually had to take on additional responsibilities in the new family unit,
fulfilling both parent roles. Children in divorced families often reported more
independence and responsibility in the family unit, probably out of necessity. These
changes serve to enhance family strength to cope with their new status and conditions in
life.
Arditti also found that children's relationship with their father often became quite different
than the relationship with their mother, although this may be dependent upon the person of
residence and the effort the absent parent makes in the relationship.