Intimacy, relationship, and commitment beliefs of adult Caucasian and African American children of divorced families: A review of the literature and history of marriage and divorce

Divorce has played an integral part in history since its origin in the United States in the early 1600s during the time of the Puritans. The current trend of disrupted marriages and the effects that divorce has on families and children across the twentieth century is of great concern (Wallerstein, 1985). Of particular concern is the continuation of the pattern of divorce evident is subsequent generations (Gabardi & Rosen, 1992).;There has been much controversy surrounding the effects of parental divorce on the intimacy, relationship, and commitment beliefs of adult children of divorced parents. Such questions as, "Do adult children from divorced parents view relationships differently than their peers raised in families with intact, married parents?" and "Are the results similar for Caucasian and African American Children?" come to mind. Studies have shown that divorce can strongly affect adult children's intimate relationships.;Wallerstein and Blakeslee (1996) found that after a decade, children of divorced parents could suffer from a fear of intimacy, remaining apprehensive about marriage. Their seminal research described that many adult children experienced fears that they would be abandoned and betrayed by their lover or spouse. Although many researchers have found evidence for similar conclusions as Wallerstein and Blakeslee (Gabardi & Rosen, 1992; Swartzman-Schatman & Schinke, 1993), other researchers (Hazelton, Lancee, & O'Neil, 1998; Nock, 1982; Gately & Schwebel, 1992) describe no significant differences between the two groups. Gately and Schwebel have argued that children of divorced parents might actually have strengthened intimacy and relationship skills developed by living through the divorce experience thereby becoming well-adjusted adults.;This dissertation reviews literature concerning the origin of marriage and divorce and the effects of divorce on Caucasian and African American adult children's views of intimacy, relationship, and commitment beliefs. The history of marriage and divorce, intimacy, relationship, and commitment beliefs, Caucasian and African American children of divorce, factors contributing to divorce, and positive outcomes will be reviewed. Therapeutic implications for practitioners, appropriate therapeutic goals, and suggestions for future research will be recommended.