CHILDREN AND PARENTAL DIVORCE - THE MEANING OF SMALL EFFECTS - A REPLY

The commentary on my earlier review of Australian studies of parental divorce raises a number of important points. One of these is the evalu ation of strength of association. I argue that the effect sizes found for the association between parental divorce and several social and ps ychological outcomes have been understated and carl be shown to be equ al to those of other important early-life and contemporary risk factor s for mental health problems. A second issue is the research direction required to establish those factors which mediate or moderate the imp act of parental separation for children. I suggest that the following questions need to be addressed: (a) What factors operating in childhoo d ameliorate or exacerbate the social and psychological problems assoc iated with parental divorce? (b) What behavioural signs identify those children who develop longterm problems? (c) What circumstances in ado lescence and adulthood operate as risk and protective factors for the onset and persistence of adult difficulties?