Psychology

Child adjustment to familial dissolution: An examination of parental factors using a self-determination theory framework

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Research on child adjustment to familial dissolution has been plentiful over the past few decades. However, the mechanisms regulating the process of child adjustment and the ways in which parental factors function to protect against or elevate the risk of child maladjustment are still little understood. We examine the existing literature through the lens of self-determination theory (SDT), a theory of motivation that proposes 3 universal psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). According to this model, the meeting of these needs is vital for well-being, whereas their thwarting may result in maladjustment. As parental divorce has the potential to undermine all 3 of children's needs, future research built on an SDT framework could help illuminate the processes by which parenting factors affect child adjustment to divorce.

Publication Title

Journal of Divorce and Remarriage

Publication Date

2009

Volume

50

Issue

1

First Page

66

Last Page

80

ISSN

1050-2556

DOI

10.1080/10502550802365722

Keywords

autonomy, competence, divorce, relatedness, self-determination theory

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