Search

Divorce is a very common experience and, while much divorce-related research has been conducted dealing with women and children of divorce, divorce research focusing on men has been minimal. This study examined thoughts, problems, and concerns of urban divorced men during the first month of divorce--Time 1(T1), at 6 months--Time 2 (T2), and at 1 year--Time 3 (T3) following the divorce. One hundred twenty-three men participated at T1, 84 continued at T2, and 54 responded at T3. Subjects completed a demographic questionnaire, the Psychological Adjustment Scale, and the Checklist of Problems and Concerns. The results revealed that finances, social relationships, and loneliness were major areas of concern; problems in practical living were least troublesome. Subjects thought more about financial matters at T1 than about any of the other areas which were a major concern at T3. Statistically significant decreases existed between T1 and T2 concerning loneliness, reaction of friends to the divorce, and reaction of relatives to the divorce. Five problem areas (loneliness, former spouse contacts, interpersonal relationships, control and competence, discussing the divorce) were derived through factor analysis of problem and concern items. Statistically significant decreases between T1 and T2 and between T1 and T3 were found in loneliness and in control and competence. (Author/NB)