1. Dynamics behind Divorced
Families
MaryRose Forster

2. Reason for this research
Wanted to know if there were similar ages of
children with divorced parents.
To learn feelings felt during divorce.
To learn if children expressed feeling about the
divorce.
To learn who exactly kids would communicate with.

3. Continued
To learn if a parents divorce had negative effects
there child’s school performances
If being in social situations during your parents
divorce was difficult.
If parents being divorced has an effect on their
children’s lifestyle.
Kids that went through divorce at a younger age or
being male or female help you cope better.

4. Method
I used a survey to gather information about my desired
topic.
Surveys generally take the form of lists of questions
(technically known as “instruments”) addressed to
representative samples of some population to obtain
valid numerical data about the larger population as a
whole.
 In my survey I asked questions that could consider my survey
descriptive or analytic.
 I used the site surveymonkey to construct my survey and sent
it out to friends.

5. Previous Research of Topic
Age Groups

6. Age 3-5
Children from three to five years are preschoolers
who are exploring their environment. This cognitive
development means an increase in their vocabulary,
and their level of thinking becomes more complex.
They believe that they are in total control of their
environment, which can pose a problem for parents
who want a divorce. The child may feel as though
they are responsible for the divorce and if this is the
case, they feel powerless about the outcome.

7. Ages 6-11
From six to eleven years, peer interaction becomes
yet another factor in a divorce equation. At this age,
a child’s world expands as he or she acquires an ever
increasing number of friends whose opinions a child
values highly. At this age, children may become a
little distant from their parents even under normal
conditions. For early elementary school children, the
onset of divorce can be a very difficult obstacle to
overcome. As the children get older, they normally
begin to realize that their parents did not abandon
them, but they will only realize this if the parents
are open in talking with the children.

8. Ages 11-18
At this stage, children are becoming more abstract
thinkers. They develop and discover their own
identities. Children begin to move away from the
security of the home. Early adolescence is not so
much a time of rebellion as a time of exploration.
Adolescents focus on their lives and their peers, not
the home and parents. The adolescent is very aware
of what is going on in his or her parent’s lives. Not
only are they aware of what surrounds them, but
they also are very critical about the situation. At
this stage, most of the time they will not accept
divorce as an answer.

9. Survey Questions & Expected
results
1. How old were you when you learned your parents were
getting a divorce? What is your current age?
-I believed most children’s parents got divorced when
their kids were 12 or younger.
2. How did you feel when you learned that your parents
were getting divorced? Select all that apply.
- I assumed most kids would be upset, sad, angry, and
so on.
3. Did you talk to your parents about your feelings?
-Yes, more kids under the age of 12 and older then 20.

10. Survey questions & Expected
results.
4. Did you talk to others outside of your family about the
divorce?
- Yes, more kids over the age of 12.
5. Who would you talk to about the divorce?
- Most kids communicate with their mother or father.
6. Did you experience an emotional strain in school or
other activities?
-Yes, more for kids over the age of 16.

11. Survey questions & Expected
Results
7. Did you find it more difficult to be in social situations during the
divorce?
-Yes, more female then males, more kids over the age of 16.
8. Do you think your parents being divorced had an overall effect on
your lifestyle?
-Yes, same for males and female. Also less of an effect if child
is 12 and under.
9. Do you think your parents getting divorced effected your school
performance?
-Yes, more for males then females. Children under they age of
10 are less effected.
10. Do you feel that your parents did a good job managing the
impact of the divorce for you? –Yes, for kids under the age of 10.

12. Survey Results
1. How old were you when you learned your parents were
getting a divorce? What is your current age?
One 10, 22, 23 year old. Three 5 and three 12 year olds
Two 15 and two 21 your olds
Current age?
One 16, 18,19, 23, 24 year old. Two 20 and 22 year olds.
Four 21 year olds

13. Survey Results
How did you feel when you learned that your parents
were getting divorced? Select all that apply.
Sad 84.6% Mad 38.5% Devastated 7.7% Upset 38.5%
Angry 23.1% Happy 0% Unsure 53.8%
Frustrated 30.8% Insecure 0% Shocked 46.2%f
Relieved 23.1% Confused 7.7%

14. Survey Results
3. Did you talk to your parents about your feelings?
Yes 61.5% No 38.5%
Ages that said No 10, 12, 12, 15.
Ages that said Yes 5, 5, 5, 12, 15, 21, 21, 22, 23.
Younger and older kids talk to their parents more.
Correct hypothesis for question 3.

15. Survey Results
Did you talk to others outside of your family about the
divorce?
Yes 76.9% No 23.1%
More then half the kids that said they didn’t talk to
their parents said they talk to other people about the
divorce.

16. Who would you talk to about the divorce?
No One 7.7% 1
Mom 61.5% 8
Dad 69.2% 9
Sister 46.2% 6 Dad, Mom, and Friends have
Brother 53.8% 7 the highest numbers.
Grandmother 30.8% 4
Grandfather 7.7% 1
Cousin 23.1% 3
Aunt 30.8% 4
Uncle 7.7% 1
Friend(s) 61.5% 8
BoyFriend/Girlfriend 30.8% 4
Teacher 0.0% 0
Coach 0.0% 0
Therapist 15.4% 2

17. 6.Did you experience an emotional strain in school or
other activities?
Yes 46.2% No 53.8%
7. Did you find it more difficult to be in social situations
during the divorce?
Yes 38.5% No 61.5%
8. Do you think your parents being divorced had an overall
effect on your lifestyle?
Yes 84.4% No 15.%

18. 9. Do you think your parents getting divorced
effected your school performance?
Positively 7.7% Negatively 38.5% No effect 53.8%
 10. Do you feel that your parents did a good job
managing the impact of the divorce for you?
Yes 53.8% No 46.2%

19. Big Mistake
I made a major mistake while conducting this survey, I
wanted to learn the different feelings different age groups
had and different feelings males and females had. I never
realized until after going through all my data that I forgot
to ask if you’re a male or female.
This was a major set back because I wanted to discover the
different ways males and females handle divorce within
their family network.

20. Results and Hypothesis
comparison
I Believed that most parents got divorced when
their kids were 12 or younger. Out of 13, 9 are
15 or younger
. More 5-12 year olds communicated outside the
family then I expected.
I expected parents to be the number one
children communicate with. Dad, Mom, and
Friends with the top choices.

21. Continued
Expect kids over the age of 12 affected in school.
Yes Ages- 12,12,15,21,22. No- 5,5,5,10,12,15,21,23
Kids over the age of 16 effected in social situations.
Yes- 12,12,21,21. No- 5,5,5,10,12,15,15,22,23.
I believed children’s that parents got divorced at a
younger age would have less of an effect on their life
style. Yes 5,5,5,10,12,12,12,15,15,21,21
No- 22,23.

22. Divorce has a negative effect on students
ages 10 and older. Neg- 5,10,12,21,21.
Pos- 23 No effect- 5,5,12,12,15,15,22
Children under the age of 10 had parents
that managed the divorce well.
Yes- 5,5,5,12,15,15,22.
No- 10,12,12,21,21,23.

23. Next time
If I were to do this again I would ask who is male or
female.
I would ask more questions relating to how children
would communicate.
Make more questions, find more people to take survey.

24. Work Cited
http://www.divorcesource.com
Berger, Arthur Asa. Media and Communication Research
Methods: An Introduction to Qualitative and
Quantitative Approaches. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage Publications, 2011. Print.