The Economic Experiences of Fathers: Before, During, and After Divorce
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THE ECONOMIC EXPERIENCES OF FATHERS: BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER DIVORCE DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Roy H. Fish, B.S. * * * * * The Ohio State University 2006 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Jerelyn B. Schultz, Adviser ____________________________ Adviser Associate Professor Timothy J. Curry College of Human Ecology Assistant Professor Ted G. Futris Copyright by Roy H. Fish 2006 ABSTRACT This study explored fathers’ subjective economic experiences of divorce and evaluated the utility of stress and gender perspectives in explaining fathers’ divorce adjustment. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Ohio fathers who indicated high levels of divorce conflict on a mail survey on coparenting adjustment. The fathers were interviewed within three years of their divorce. An “average profile” of the fathers in the study was a White father in his late 30s with some college education earning almost $40,000 annually. He had been left by his wife after an 11 year marriage that produced one or two children. By the time of the study, the father had been divorced a year and a half and was more likely than not to be involved in another intimate relationship. He shared legal if not physical custody of his children with his former spouse. Textual analysis of the interviews was performed by identifying themes and patterns both within and between fathers’ stories. Major themes of economic tension were found across three distinct time periods of the divorce (during marriage, during separation, and following divorce). Major themes of economic tension during marriage were financial stress (i.e., difficulties making ends meet), marital conflicts over money management, and the division of paid and unpaid work. Major themes during separation included financial stress, legal costs, and the dividing of marital assets. Major themes postdivorce included financial stress, child support and shared parenting expenses, and lingering resentments over the dividing of marital assets and child custody. The study’s findings appear to fit most closely with stress perspectives of divorce, particularly the writings of Pearlin and colleagues. Three components of stress theory -- social structure, stressor pile-up, and economic stress seemed to be reflective of fathers’ economic experiences across divorce. The findings fit less closely with gender ii perspectives of divorce, although fathers’ economic tensions, particularly those during separation and postdivorce, appeared to mostly result more from the gendered nature of the legal divorce rather than from gender role strain. Further qualitative research into fathers’ economic experiences of divorce is recommended. Future research might explore more selective time frames -- either longer or shorter – in order to better understand the trajectories of divorced fathers’ economic tensions over time. Such research could help to solidify the role of mediators and moderators in those trajectories. Further study is also warranted to illuminate the relationship between economic tensions and conflict levels during marriage and divorce. Finally, it is suggested that more attention be given in the family science divorce literature to how subjective attitudes towards money such as an individual’s “perceived control” to money impact economic and relationship stress surrounding life events such as divorce. iii Dedicated to Lora, for your incredible love, support, and patience, and to Hannah. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank my adviser, Jerelyn Schultz, for adopting me “midstream” and providing excellent guidance and support to help me through this project’s completion. I’m not sure where I would have wound up had you not so kindly stepped forward and helped me out. I would also like to thank my committee members, Timothy Curry and Ted Futris, for their encouragement and insightful guidance. I further wish to thank the faculty and staff, past and present, within the Department of Human Development and Family Science for the many ways they supported me through this project. I especially wish to acknowledge, in memorandum, the mentoring and support provided by my first adviser, Patrick McKenry. I promised you that I would finish and I (finally) have. The completion of this study was made possible, in part, by a fellowship from the Anita R. McCormick endowment fund. The one year fellowship provided a timely and much welcomed boost in getting the dissertation moving forward. The study was further made possible by a grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health. I especially wish to thank my family, both immediate and extended, for your support and understanding. Although you had numerous opportunities to cast doubts upon my completing, you didn’t. Thank you. More than any other person, I must thank my wife, Lora. Your love, patience, and support far exceeded what I could have offered had the tables been reversed. Thank you Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the divorced fathers who so graciously opened up their lives and shared their stories. I can’t thank you enough. v VITA December 13, 1962………………………… Born – Columbus, Ohio 1987………………………………………... B.S., Psychology The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 1997 – present……………………………… Graduate Administrative Associate Graduate Research Associate Graduate Teaching Associate The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio PUBLICATIONS Catlett, B., McKenry, P., Toews, M., & Fish, R. (1999). Nature and consequences of violence against women in the context of divorce: A gendered perspective. In New Research in Mental Health, 14, 179-190. Columbus, OH: Ohio Department of Mental Health. Cantrell, P., & Fish, R. (2006). Domestic violence. In Encyclopedia of Appalachia. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press. Fish, R. (2001) [Review of the book Reflections on anger: Women and men in a changing society.] Journal of Men’s Studies, 9, 431-433. McKenry, P., Catlett, B., Toews, M., & Fish, R. (2001). Origins and consequences of physical and verbal abuse against women in the context of separation and divorce. In New Research in Mental Health, 15, 179-190. Columbus, OH: Ohio Department of Mental Health. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Human Ecology Minor: Sociology vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract …………………………………………………………………………….… ii Dedication ……………………………………………………………………………. iv Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………………………. v Vita …………………………………………………………………………………… vi List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………. ix Chapters: 1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………… 1 1.1 Theoretical perspectives of divorce adjustment …………………………… 2 1.2 Divorce adjustment and gender …………………………………………… 3 1.3 Research on men’s economic experiences of divorce …………………….. 5 1.4 The purpose of this study …………………………………………………. 5 1.4.1 Research questions ……………………………………………… 6 2. Literature review ……………………………………………………………… 8 2.1 Review of theory …………………………………………………………. 8 2.1.1 Divorce-stress-adjustment perspective …………………………. 9 2.1.2 Sociological stress perspective ………………………………… 12 2.1.3 Economic stress perspective ……………………………………. 14 2.1.4 Gender perspectives …………………………………………….. 17 2.2 Empirical review …………………………………………………………. 21 2.2.1 A closer look at men’s divorce adjustment …………………….. 28 2.3 The legal context of divorce ……………………………………………… 31 2.4 Summary …………………………………………………………………. 34 3. Methods ………………………………………………………………………. 36 3.1 Quantitative sample and data collection methods ………………………... 36 3.2 Qualitative sample and data collection methods …………………………. 37 3.3 Data analysis ……………………………………………………………… 39 3.4 Validity and reliability ……………………………………………………. 40 3.5 Standpoint of the researcher ………………………………………………. 46 3.6 Sample characteristics …………………………………………………….. 46 3.7 Summary and limitations …………………………………………………. 52 vii 4. Results ………………………………………………………………………… 54 4.1 Biographies ……………………………………………………………….. 54 4.2 Fathers’ economic experiences of divorce ………………………………... 71 4.2.1 Fathers’ economic experiences during marriage ……………….. 72 4.2.2 Fathers’ economic experiences during separation ……………… 77 4.2.3 Fathers’ economic experiences after divorce …………………… 83 4.3 Summary …………………………………………………………………... 91 5. Discussion …………………………………………………………………….. 92 5.1 Summary of findings and comparisons with the literature reviewed … 92 5.1.1 Fathers’ economic tensions during marriage …………………... 93 5.1.2 Fathers’ economic tensions during separation …………………. 94 5.1.3 Fathers’ economic tensions following divorce …………………. 97 5.1.4 Summary of findings ……………………………………………. 100 5.2 Theoretical fit of findings to stress and gender perspectives …………. 100 5.2.1 Theoretical fit of findings to stress perspectives ………………... 101 5.2.2 Theoretical fit of findings to gender perspectives ………………. 105 5.2.3 Summary of theoretical fit of findings ………………………….. 110 5.3 Conclusions …………………………………………………………… 111 5.4 Limitations of the study ………………………………………………. 113 5.5 Recommendations for future research ………………………………… 114 List of references ……………………………………………………………………… 119 Appendix A: Letter inviting participation ……….…………………………………… 129 Appendix B: Mail survey demographic questions ……………………………………. 131 Appendix C: Mail survey items used to select high conflict respondents ……………. 135 Appendix D: Consent form ……………………….…………………………………… 137 Appendix E: Interview guide ………………………………………………………….. 138 Appendix F: Coding outlines ………………………………………………………….. 141 viii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 3.1 Fathers’ marriage, separation, and divorce characteristics ……………………. 50 3.2