Alternative Research Perspectives for Studying the Effects of Parental Divorce

Abstract

This literature review examines the most prominent studies assessing the consequences of divorce. Research from the modernist tradition is critiqued for its deficit view of single-parent families created by divorce, androcentric bias, and methodological flaws. The development of alternative research perspectives is proposed by postmodern researchers who suggest that multiple contexts may exist as viable and legitimate environments in which to raise children. Examining the effects of divorce from a postmodern perspective shifts the focus away from looking exclusively at the negative consequences of divorce. In contrast, the strengths, competencies, and unique experiences of individuals and families affected by divorce are explored. © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.