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The Impact of Parental Divorce on Orthodox Jewish Marital Relationships

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The Impact of Parental Divorce on Orthodox Jewish Marital Relationships Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 The mpI act of Parental Divorce on Orthodox Jewish Marital Relationships Eliyahu Melen Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Psychology Commons, Religion Commons, and the Sociology Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Eliyahu Melen has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Susana Verdinelli, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Elisha Galaif, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. Stephen Rice, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract The Impact of Parental Divorce on Orthodox Jewish Marital Relationships by Eliyahu Melen Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Walden University March 2017 Abstract While there is ample research showing that adult children of divorced parents have more positive attitudes toward divorce and lower marital commitment, there has been no such research focused specifically on the Orthodox Jewish (OJ) population, which tends to view divorce more negatively. Prior to this study, it was thus unclear if the findings of existing research on marital competence applied to OJ children of divorce. Driven by social exchange theory, this study was designed to discover (a) whether OJ adult children of divorce differ significantly from OJ adult children of intact marriages in their marital commitment and marital satisfaction; (b) whether gender moderates the relationships between parental divorce, marital satisfaction, and marital commitment; and (c) if attitudes toward divorce mediate those relationships. Data from 162 adult OJ participants living in the United States were collected using quantitative cross-sectional survey methodology, and were analyzed using 1-way multivariate analysis of covariance, hierarchical multiple regression, and conditional process analysis. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between OJ adult children of divorce and OJ adult children of intact marriages in their marital commitment or marital satisfaction. Further, gender did not moderate the relationships between parental divorce and marital satisfaction or marital commitment, nor did attitudes toward divorce mediate those relationships. OJ community leaders may use the results of this study to help implement community awareness programs designed to reduce the stigma of parental divorce and its impact on the marriage prospects of OJ children of divorce. The Impact of Parental Divorce on Orthodox Jewish Marital Relationships by Eliyahu Melen Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Walden University March 2017 Acknowledgments I would like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous individuals who have been instrumental in helping me achieve this momentous milestone. First of all, I would like to thank my dissertation chair, Dr. Susana Verdinelli, who has been a constant source of guidance, encouragement, and professional expertise. Without your patience and dedication to my project, it would not be what it is today. I am honored and truly fortunate to have had you as a chair. I also want to thank my second committee member, Dr. Elisha Galaif and my URR, Dr. Stephen Rice, for your assistance and commitment to helping me attain this goal. Your expertise and skill helped shape my project into a scholarly work. I would like to thank my dear wife, Chavy, who has stood by my side with constant support and devotion throughout this long and arduous academic journey. Your faith in me is the most significant force that has helped me traverse it, and you have my deepest admiration and gratitude. I would also like to thank my dear children, Chaim, Miriam, Esty, Mayer, Akiva, Devoiry, and Hindy, for putting up with my constant inaccessibility due to my academic work. I am truly blessed to have you in my life and I love you with all of my heart. Lastly and most importantly, thank you, Master of the World, Creator and Sustainer of all creation, for all the blessings you continue to shower upon us all. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................2 Statement of the Problem ...............................................................................................4 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................7 Research Questions and Hypotheses .............................................................................8 Theoretical Foundation for the Study ..........................................................................10 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................10 Definitions....................................................................................................................12 Assumptions .................................................................................................................13 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................15 Limitations ...................................................................................................................15 Significance..................................................................................................................17 Summary ......................................................................................................................19 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................20 Introduction ..................................................................................................................20 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................23 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................23 Review of the Literature ..............................................................................................30 i How Parental Divorce Relates to Adult Children’s Own Marriages .................... 30 Intergenerational Transmission of Divorce in the Context of Marital Conflict ..................................................................................................... 33 Attitudes toward Divorce ...................................................................................... 38 Gender Differences ............................................................................................... 41 Positive Effects of Divorce ................................................................................... 45 The Role of Religion ............................................................................................. 46 Marital Attitudes in the Orthodox Community ..................................................... 47 Orthodox Jewish Adult Children of Divorce (OJ ACOD).................................... 50 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 53 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................53 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................56 Introduction ..................................................................................................................56 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................56 Research Questions and Hypotheses ...........................................................................57 Methodology ................................................................................................................59 Population and Sampling Procedures ................................................................... 59 Procedures for Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection .......................... 61 Instrumentation and Operationalization of Constructs ................................................61
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