| Divorce is now a common phenomenon within American culture, and a plethora of research has surfaced around divorce and its subsequent effect on children. Many of these studies have revealed that children often feel distress over their parents divorce, however in most cases distress does not lead to pathology. The expanding literature on the concept of resilience provides an understanding about how people are able to deal with adversity and distress. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of divorce, it is beneficial to understand how individuals find strength in times of distress. The concept of hardiness encompasses shifting perceptions of adverse events as something imposed and beyond control, to an opportunity for learning and growth. Research on optimism reveals that expectations not only influence how persons view the world, but also how they live in the world. Optimism may serve as an important source of resilience for children experiencing parental divorce. This study sought to examine both hardiness and optimism as components of resilience. Interviews were conducted to examine how concepts of resilience, hardiness, and optimism played a role in children's ability to cope with their parents divorce.;Eight one-hour long interviews were conducted with graduate students examining individual experiences of parental divorce. Several common themes emerged throughout the majority of interviews. Themes emerged around how participants were able to cope with difficult adjustments following parental divorce. Major themes which surfaced around positive adjustment included (a) self-reliance and independence, (b) development of mediation skills, (c) flexibility, (d) confidence in ability to handle future adversity, and lastly (e) external support from extended family and friends. |
