Money Matters: Young Adults’ Perception of the Economic Consequences of their Parents’ Divorce

• Published in: Journal of family and economic issues 2008-03, Vol.29 (1), p.74-85
• Main Authors: Eldar-Avidan, Dorit, Haj-Yahia, Muhammad M., Greenbaum, Charles W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Adult children; Child psychology; Child support; Divorce; Economic behaviour. Consumption; Economic change; Economic decline; Economic sociology; Economics; Families & family life; Family; Family studies; Mothers; Original Paper; Parent-child relations; Parents & parenting; Perceptions; Personal finance; Personality and Social Psychology; Poverty; Psychological aspects; Qualitative research; Sexuality. Marriage. Family relations; Social Policy; Social research; Social Sciences; Sociology; Sociology of economy and development; Sociology of the family. Age groups; Studies; Women; Young adults
• ISSN: 1058-0476; 1573-3475
• DOI: 10.1007/s10834-007-9093-4

A qualitative study examined the perceptions of 22 Israeli young adults (ages 20–25) of childhood parental divorce. Respondents discussed their experiences, including economic consequences of the divorce. Results related to the practical aspect of economic decline, to economic issues as embodiment of parental conflicts, and to children’s emotional and practical roles connected to economic changes. Children’s understanding and coping with financial issues are related to three profiles of overall adjustment identified in this study—resilience, survival, and vulnerability. Resilient young adults interpreted as empowering their understanding and coping; the survivors recognized their efforts as meaningful but burdensome; and vulnerable participants felt that economic changes caused a heavy financial and emotional price. Limitations and implications are discussed.