@article {5326, title = {"Only God decides": young children{\textquoteright}s perceptions of divorce and the legal system}, journal = {J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry}, volume = {38}, number = {12}, year = {1999}, note = {Pruett, K D
Pruett, M K
eng
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t
1999/12/22 00:00
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1999 Dec;38(12):1544-50. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199912000-00016.}, month = {Dec}, pages = {1544-50}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To describe research on perceptions of children aged 6 and younger from 21 families of their parents{\textquoteright} divorce, of its impact on their families, and of legal officials. METHOD: Semistructured play interviews were conducted during home visits as parents were conjointly interviewed as part of a larger study on divorce in legal context. RESULTS: Children had much mis-information about divorce as an event and process. What they did know was often inappropriate, frightening, and confusing. They resented how the process "ruined their parents{\textquoteright} being friends any more" and proposed reforms based on their wishes and observations. CONCLUSIONS: Greater awareness is needed of the child{\textquoteright}s desire to be heard during the process, to feel safe and less lonely, and to stay in touch with both parents and extended families. Age-appropriate explanations of psychological and legal aspects of the divorce process are likely to support children{\textquoteright}s positive adjustment and mental health.}, keywords = {*Social Perception, Adaptation, Psychological, Child, Child Behavior/*psychology, Child, Preschool, Divorce/*legislation \& jurisprudence/*psychology, Family/psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Parent-Child Relations, Psychology, Child, Social Adjustment}, isbn = {0890-8567 (Print)
0890-8567 (Linking)}, author = {Pruett, K. D. and Pruett, M. K.} }