FAMILY CLIMATE, FAMILY-STRUCTURE AND SELF-ESTEEM IN COLLEGE FEMALES -THE PHYSICAL-WHOLENESS VS PSYCHOLOGICAL-WHOLENESS DIVORCE DEBATE REVISITED

We examine two interpretations for an hypothesized relationship betwee n divorce of parents and diminished self-esteem among female college s tudents. The first interpretation suggests that this relationship is d ue to the increased likelihood of abusive climates in the family of or igin of children of divorce; the second, that it is due to the loss of regular access to a biological parent. Our findings do indicate an as sociation between the experience of parental divorce and lower self-es teem, but that, while this association may be interpreted in terms of loss of access to a biological parent, it may not be interpreted in te rms of abusive environments in families of divorce. We present theoret ical interpretations of these results, as well as their implications f or clinical practice.