Measuring divorce disruption

Abstract

Abstract by author:

In this study, divorce disruption is investigated in the Namibian context where, because of a lack of understanding of divorce and its destructive consequences in general, as well as inefficient community resources and obsolete divorce legislation, the effects of divorce clearly impact its victims in a destructive way

With this study the researcher endeavored to measure divorce disruption according to the following five research objectives: (i) To develop impact-and-assessment scales to measure divorce disruption of divorcees and adult children of divorce by constructing and employing semi-structured questionnaires capturing the most disruptive areas of divorce; (ii) To test the divorce disruption impact-and-assessment scale on selected respondents (divorcees and the adult children of divorce), measuring the impact of the law, financial disruption, social and personal disruption, disruption on adult children of divorce, emotion disruption and the role of repressed anger; (iii) To conduct a survey with pastors, psychologists and social workers to assess their involvement with divorcees and to capture relevant experiential knowledge on how divorce disruption was dealt with and resolved with their assistance; (iv) To develop a classification for repressed anger as a major emotional divorce disruption component and to convert it into divorce disruption impact-and-assessment scales; and (v) To analyze and present the research results

This thesis is divided into seven chapters as follows: CHAPTER ONE: In this chapter a general orientation to the study is presented. It contains a statement of the problem, background information on divorce and divorce disruption in Namibia, hypothesis setting and variables, the multiplicity divorce disruptions; research objectives, research design, research methodology, empirical study, the significance and limitations of the study, followed by definitions of key concepts and the structure of the thesis

CHAPTER TWO: A literature review based on the research objectives is discussed in this chapter as follows: the impact of the law, financial disruption, social and personal disruption, divorce disruption for the adult children of divorce, emotional disruption, and the role of repressed anger

CHAPTER THREE: The literature review as an extension of chapter two describes the various views meanings and roles of a healing community and the combined importance of the various healing elements within a community and the need to make these healing components available to divorcees, who have a responsibility to tap into these resources for personal growth and well-being

CHAPTER FOUR: This chapter contains a short summary of the overall research sample, research methodology and research information, followed by the presentation of the research results and findings for divorcees

CHAPTER FIVE: Chapter five portrays a short summary of the overall research sample, research methodology and research information, followed by the presentation of the research results and findings for the adult children of divorce

CHAPTER SIX: In chapter six the researcher presents a short summary of the overall research sample, research methodology and information for pastors, social workers and psychologists, followed by the exposition of research results and findings for these research target groups

CHAPTER SEVEN: This final chapter depicts the resume regarding the research objectives and hypothesis outcome, followed by a final conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ANNEXURES: At the end of chapter seven an extensive bibliography is included, followed by Appendix A containing the research information and impact scales for divorcees, Appendix B with research information and impact scales for the adult children of divorce, while Appendix C portrays research information and divorce disruption impact scales for pastors (church) ministers, social workers and psychologists. Appendix D reflects a proposed classification for repressed anger