Publication

This study aimed to test a hypothesized model of the relationship between parents' co-parenting after divorce, relationship with parents, mother's adjustment, social support, explanation of separation and divorce, and children's adjustment. We conducted a questionnaire survey of junior high school students in third to fourth grades who experienced parental divorce and lived with their mothers. The data from 166 pairs of children and parents with visitation rights after separation were analyzed. The results showed that conflictive co-parenting after divorce was negatively associated with children's better adjustment and mediated by their repressive acceptance of conflict, self-blame, and dismissal of childhood. However, cooperative co-parenting following divorce and parents' explanation of the divorce were positively related to children’s relationship with parents; this in turn was positively related to children's adjustment, either directly or through social support outside the home. In the discussion, psychological support for children and their parents following parental divorce was examined.