Three boys, aged 4-7, wanted to be feminine and dressed in women's clothes following a difficult divorce with custody and visitation strife. In brief psychotherapy, gender seemed related to issues of loss and aggression. On followup, all three were symptomatically improved. Gender disturbance symptom in boys may come about as regressive reaction…

Examines reasons for hiring a divorce attorney, the attorney selection process, and client evaluations of their attorneys. Sixty-six men and women, who were parents of at least one minor child, indicated that they learned about their divorce attorney through a personal recommendation, and hired the first and only lawyer whom they consulted.…

Uses contested child custody cases between divorcing parents to examine the interconnections between legal and familial processes. Examines the structure of the legal system in relation to the factors leading to custody litigation, the strategies of parents contesting the custody of their children, and the impact of these actions on the legal…

Explored the impact of custodial arrangement on the adjustment of recently divorced fathers. Indicated that divorced fathers with custody exhibited less depression and anxiety and fewer problems in general adjustment than those without custody. Results highlight the importance of the children's presence as a facilitative, stabilizing factor in…

Determined how gender and divorce affect per-capita family income. Female per-capita income decreased substantially after divorce, while male per-capita income increased substantially. Differences between male and female income levels could not be attributed solely to number of dependents. Even among those with no dependents, females had much…

Analyzed 160 contested child custody cases to explore the role of children and determine the extent to which judges use discretionary powers. Results suggested children rarely provide any direct input into divorce/custody proceedings, questioning whether judges fulfill their duty to determine the child's best interests in such cases. (JAC)

Compares two custody dispute intervention strategies, evaluation and mediation, and clarifies their philosophy, procedural differences, and limitations. The growing dissatisfaction with existing methods of processing custody disputes is affecting public policy as well as the focus of social research and the practice of the mental health…

Surveyed judges and trial commissioners (N=80) regarding child custody decisions in divorce. The content analysis described the responents' comments which clarified their reasons for attaching greater or lesser importance to a particular consideration or the method using in assessing a particular consideration during a court proceeding. (JAC)

Assessed impact of gender and presence of children in home on single parents' (N=83) dating behavior, focusing on dating opportunities, impressions, and interactions. Results revealed sex differences in parents' ability to meet new people, going on blind dates, spending time at home, and attitudes toward discipline. (Author/NB)

Examined divorce-related emotional adjustment in boys aged 6-11 living in maternal (N=20) or joint (N=20) physical custody. Found no group differences in child-administered loyalty conflict measure. Results indicated that boys in joint custody were comfortable expressing negative and positive feelings toward parents, were not preoccupied with…

Examines ethical issues in making policy decisions regarding divorce child custody disputes. Suggests dilemma occurs when legislator must decide between discretionary standard promoting best interest of child and nondiscretionary arbitrary assignment of custody. Advocates normative analysis of various types of dispute-settling processes and…

Interviewed 279 mediation-minded individuals and 111 who rejected mediation. Results showed mediation was more attractive to individuals who scored high on traditional socioeconomic indicators. A key factor was the encouragement by private attorneys. Women chose to mediate because mediation was less impersonal than the court. (JAC)

Examined the relationship between divorced noncustodial fathers and their children from the perspective of both the mother and the father. Results indicate that divorced fathers are not necessarily absent parents and that both mothers and fathers consider post-divorce father involvement desirable. The only perceived change in paternal influence…

Attempted to identify sources which influence custody decisions and determine association between arrangements and changes in child's and parents' lives. Results from 72 divorced parents revealed that custody arrangements did not predict life change events. Respondents reported contacting attorneys first, then friends and family. Physicians and…

Analyzes data from children and families seen at the Children's Divorce Clinic. Finds that preschool children are often told nothing about the divorce and that ethnically mixed marriages tended to fail before nonmixed marriages. Reports data concerning custody and parents' emotional response to the divorce. (Author/ABB)