ADULT CHILDREN OF DIVORCE - RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS PRIOR TO, FOLLOWING PARENTAL SEPARATION, AND CURRENTLY

Female and male adult children of divorce (ACDs) provided retrospectiv e ratings of their relationships with their mothers and fathers prior to and after parental separation, and also evaluated their current rel ationships with each parent. Pre-, post-separation and current relatio nships with mothers were more positively evaluated than those with fat hers. Post-separation ratings of relationships with each parent were l ower than those obtained on pre-separation scales, with some recovery evidenced on current relationship scales. The critical importance of p arental cooperation, particularly for ACDs' relationships with their f athers, was especially indicated by the present findings. A positive r elationship with one parent was also found to have contributed in a ne gative fashion to ACDs' positive evaluations of their relationship wit h their other parent following separation. Research utilizing a longit udinal approach is suggested in order to further examine the different ial qualities of ACDs' ongoing relationships with each of their parent s.