May 11, 2009 10:00 pm US/Central
Dr. William Doherty Divorce Research Resources
References from University of Minnesota Family Social Science Professor Dr. William Doherty on divorce.
Poll Data On Attitudes About Divorce
For the two-thirds of low-conflict marriages ending in divorce and children in that group doing poorly (the blockbuster study) which also references other studies finding the same thing, is found in a book by Alan Booth and Paul R. Amato --
A Generation at Risk: Growing Up in an Era of Family Upheaval
For the best work documenting the long period of instability after divorce and remarriage, a book by Mavis Hetherington and colleagues --
For Better or Worse: Divorce Reconsidered
Preliminary results of research on about 400 divorcing couples with children in Hennepin County. Dr. Doherty has been working the groups that provide mandatory parenting education for divorced couple. He has been asking the following question on the final evaluations:
Would you seriously consider a reconciliation service if one were offered?
Findings: In 10% of divorcing couples with children, both spouses independently responded "yes" or "maybe" to that question. In other 30%, one spouse responded yes or maybe, and the other responded no. Stated differently, in 40% of the couples with children in the middle of the divorce process, at least one person is open to pursuing reconciliation, and in 10% of couples, both spouses are open.
Doherty said these findings have been shocking to divorce lawyers, especially the 10% figure. He says they know that in many divorces, one person does not want it.
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