| Author: | Lam, How-yuk |
| Title: | A study on factors relating to the post-divorce adjustment of women in Hong Kong |
| Degree: | M.A. |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Subject: | Divorced women -- China -- Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Applied Social Studies |
| Pages: | iv, 101 leaves ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The rapid increase in divorce calls the attention to divorce-hood and single-parent families. This study aims at exploring factors relating to adjustment of divorced women in Hong Kong. There are several perspectives in understanding post-divorce adjustment. The perspective of loss and bereavement states the emotional reactions towards loss of marriage. The perspective of stress and crisis explains the stress imposing to the divorcee. The family system and life cycle perspective provides a frame to understand the divorce experience in the family and personal life context. The social construction explains the relationship between the individual divorce experience and the societal response. The divorcee undergoes several tasks in adjustment: the detachment with former marital bondage, fulfillment of roles and responsibilities, development of a new identity apart from marriage and the social integration. This study also explores the relationship between the following factors and the post-divorce adjustment. These factors are: value systems towards marriage and divorce, the former marital relationship, the initiator vs non-initiator, the post-divorce situation and coping resources in self. There were six targets interviewed. Five of them came from counselling service of Hong Kong Christian Service, the sixth was solicited through a friend's introduction. The subjects showed better adjustment when they had better detachment with former marital bondage. They had fatigue while taking the roles and responsibilities in caring for the family and their children. They felt lacking support, and lacking confidence in ensuring their children being well disciplined. They asked for help in areas like concrete service in daily care of the children, or the counselling service. There was certain growth in their personalities. They became more independent and stronger in facing stress. They experienced more autonomy and freedom. They felt relieved from marital conflicts. The targets with better emotional detachment from husband appeared to have new identity differed from the past. And they developed new interpersonal relationship with others. However, those with negative attachment appeared to be disturbed. Both the attitude of the kins, close friends and the attitude of divorcees themselves towards their divorce would affect the level of social integration. The process is rather interactive. It was found that some targets had better adjustment . They included those who were with non-traditional sex role, not perceiving marriage as ultimate career in female, accepting divorce as marital dissolution, not seeing divorce as personal failure, with social support, being accepted by kins and friends, detached from marital relationship and showing confidence when facing difficulties. Counselling, immediate housing, day care service, financial support are thought to be important for them in their adjustment. It is worthwhile to evaluate the publicity and the delivery system of social services so as to render maximum support for the divorced women. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b12307087.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.99 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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