Adolescents and their Families IIBackgroundPowerPoint PresentationSlide 4Slide 5Divorce and the FamilySlide 7Remarriage and the FamilyMarital Conflict and Adolescent DevelopmentParental Employment and Adolescent DevelopmentSlide 11Slide 12Adolescents and their Adolescents and their Families IIFamilies IIBackgroundBackgroundFamily life in the US increasingly diverse!Family life in the US increasingly diverse!Approximately 40% of adolescents will Approximately 40% of adolescents will experience their parents’ divorce experience their parents’ divorce –About 50% of all marriages end in divorce, the rate is About 50% of all marriages end in divorce, the rate is about 40% for first marriagesabout 40% for first marriages–About ¾ divorced parents eventually remarryAbout ¾ divorced parents eventually remarry–About ¼ US children spend some time in stepfamiliesAbout ¼ US children spend some time in stepfamilies–Many children experience more than one parental Many children experience more than one parental divorce (60% of 2ed marriages end in divorce)divorce (60% of 2ed marriages end in divorce)BackgroundBackgroundMany children never experienced the Many children never experienced the marriage of their parents to begin marriage of their parents to begin with: Substantial proportion of with: Substantial proportion of children born to “single” motherschildren born to “single” mothers–Many of these children grow up with Many of these children grow up with extended family members as alternative extended family members as alternative primary caregivers primary caregiversBackgroundBackgroundFamily structureFamily structure different from different from family family processprocess–Family processFamily process much more important for much more important for understanding adolescent outcomesunderstanding adolescent outcomesFamily transitions often occur at same time Family transitions often occur at same time as other transitions as other transitions –More transitions at same time = increased riskMore transitions at same time = increased riskDivorce and the FamilyDivorce and the FamilyIs divorce always bad for children?Is divorce always bad for children?–Depends on what marriage was like before divorceDepends on what marriage was like before divorceHow does divorce impact adolescents?How does divorce impact adolescents?–Time immediately surrounding divorce most challenging Time immediately surrounding divorce most challenging (~ 2 years following divorce)(~ 2 years following divorce)Why?Why?–Change of parenting strategies, monitoringChange of parenting strategies, monitoring–Increased parental stress leads to disrupted parentingIncreased parental stress leads to disrupted parentingDivorce and the FamilyDivorce and the Family–Divorce most difficult when Divorce most difficult when Economic strain increasesEconomic strain increasesFamily conflict overt and frequentFamily conflict overt and frequentParents (custodial versus non-custodial) Parents (custodial versus non-custodial) have different childrearing styleshave different childrearing stylesRemarriage and the FamilyRemarriage and the FamilyAdolescents have a more difficult time with remarriage than do Adolescents have a more difficult time with remarriage than do younger childrenyounger children–Many reasonsMany reasonsIssue of stepparent authorityIssue of stepparent authorityDifficulty establishing attachment to new parentDifficulty establishing attachment to new parentDivided loyaltiesDivided loyaltiesNew marital conflict to deal with - Two sets of marital conflict now!New marital conflict to deal with - Two sets of marital conflict now!IfIf marriage maintains, relationships with stepparents tend to improve during marriage maintains, relationships with stepparents tend to improve during young adulthoodyoung adulthoodAdolescent females have most difficulty with mothers’ remarriageAdolescent females have most difficulty with mothers’ remarriageMarital Conflict and Adolescent Marital Conflict and Adolescent DevelopmentDevelopment–Exposure to marital conflict Exposure to marital conflict linked with many adolescent linked with many adolescent adjustment concernsadjustment concerns–Parental behavior with Parental behavior with regard to their own romantic regard to their own romantic relationships makes impact relationships makes impact on adolescents’ own on adolescents’ own romantic relationshipsromantic relationshipsConflict resolution Conflict resolution strategiesstrategiesAggression/violenceAggression/violenceAttitudes and beliefsAttitudes and beliefsParental Employment and Parental Employment and Adolescent DevelopmentAdolescent DevelopmentAre adolescents at risk when both parents that they live Are adolescents at risk when both parents that they live with work?with work?BackgroundBackground–The decision to temporarily exit the workforce is a very serious The decision to temporarily exit the workforce is a very serious one one –Families need to make the best choice for them, but it should Families need to make the best choice for them, but it should be an informed choicebe an informed choiceWhen women temporarily exit the workforce, their potential When women temporarily exit the workforce, their potential earnings go down earnings go down –Partly why financial situation declines after divorcePartly why financial situation declines after divorceLinked to balance of power in marriageLinked to balance of power in marriageIf women are conflicted about this this can relate to marital conflictIf women are conflicted about this this can relate to marital conflictParental Employment and Parental Employment and Adolescent DevelopmentAdolescent DevelopmentBenefits of maternal employment during adolescenceBenefits of maternal employment during adolescence–EconomicEconomic–Role modelRole modelGirls whose mothers work tend to be more confident and have higher Girls whose mothers work tend to be more confident and have higher career aspirationscareer aspirations–Some research shows that it is important whether mom is Some research shows that it is important whether mom is satisfied at job satisfied at job Potential drawbacks – Potential drawbacks – but these are all fixable (especially but these are all fixable (especially when the OTHER PARENT actively participates in parenting)when the OTHER