Digital Commons at St. Mary's University Theses & Dissertations University Archives 2017 Divorce after long-term marriage : a constructivist grounded theory study Melanie M. Somerville St. Mary's University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.stmarytx.edu/dissertations Part of the Counseling Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Somerville, Melanie M., "Divorce after long-term marriage : a constructivist grounded theory study" (2017). Theses & Dissertations. 9. https://commons.stmarytx.edu/dissertations/9 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at Digital Commons at St. Mary's University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons at St. Mary's University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DIVORCE AFTER LONG-TERM MARRIAGE: A CONSTRUCTIVIST GROUNDED THEORY STUDY A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of St. Mary’s University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in COUNSELOR EDUCATION AND SUPERVISION Melanie M. Somerville, MA, LPC-S San Antonio, Texas 2017 ProQuest Number:10289236 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ProQuest 10289236 Published by ProQuest LLC ( 2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - 1346 DIVORCE AFTER LONG-TERM MARRIAGE: A CONSTRUCTIVIST GROUNDED THEORY STUDY APPROVED: ______________________________ Dana M. Comstock-Benzick, Ph.D. Dissertation Adviser ______________________________ H. Ray Wooten, Ph.D. ______________________________ Gilberto Salinas, Ph.D. APPROVED: ___________________________________ Megan Mustain, Ph.D. Interim Graduate Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences Date: ______________________________ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Brobdingnagian task of completing a dissertation pales in comparison to raising children. Therefore, I dedicate the effort, discipline, and time spent completing this research to my daughters, Madison and Hannah. They represent the best of my heart and soul, and are constant sources of infinite love, laughter, encouragement, and inspiration. This is for you, my darlings. I would also like to honor their father and my former husband, Dr. Judson Somerville. Without his early encouragement, I would never have begun my journey as a counselor. His endorsement of higher education and belief in the power of counseling spurred me to resume my education twenty years after obtaining my undergraduate degree. Thank you, Judd. To my parents, Judy Wickham and Carroll Merlick, thank you for your unceasing encouragement, affection, love and support. You always told me I could do anything I wanted. For much of my life, I took that statement for granted, but held onto this aphorism time and again while working on this project. I love you so much. My four siblings, Alecia, Jennifer, Christopher and Jerry, and their spouses and children have all shown, in many ways, their love and kindness throughout my dissertation journey. I was absent for many family gatherings in the service of this project and I never heard a word of criticism or disapproval. Your love is with me always, and I thank you for support, seen and unseen. I send my love to you all. To my chair, Dr. Dana Comstock-Benzick, what a journey we have been on! I am ever appreciative of your guidance and teaching. I am a better writer, scholar, and researcher having been your student these five years! Namaste. iii To Dr. Gilberto Salinas, remember the conversation we had in your office almost ten years ago? I remember as though it were yesterday. You said, “You should get your PhD and develop new theory.” And I said, “No way! I am done with graduate school!” Not a year later, I was back in your office, asking whom to call about a doctoral program. I cannot thank you enough for opening the door, just a crack, to my curiosity. No lie, there were days I cursed you, and myself, for taking on this task. Truly, you saw something in me that I could not. Mil gracias, amigo. To Dr. Ray Wooten, while earning my Master’s degree in Laredo, I heard your name venerated by your former student, Dr. Salinas. When I took your classes at St. Mary’s, I understood. Thank you for all the wisdom you imparted to me, and guidance you provided during the doctoral program. Thank you for agreeing to serve on my committee. I extend the penultimate thanks and dedication to my partner and love of my life, Scott Ortkiese. In everything he is enthusiastic and present. He cajoled me from my doubts, and made me laugh. He cooked dinner, cleaned up, gave me time and space. I cannot have been easy to live with these past few months. My heart is full as I type these words, because you have made it all bearable. Thank you, darling. Many, many more family, friends and dogs contributed, in countless ways, to the completion of my dissertation. For the French bread, tennis balls, insights, dog walks, lunchtime chats, Gestalt gleanings, running companionship, heart-to-heart talks, and overall good times, thank you and love to, Don, Kevin, Matt, Denise, Jen, Avery, Doug, Christa, Karen, Mike, Jan, Michael, James, Vicki, Peter, Driftwood crew, Monique, John, Carol, Alexa, Steph, Elizabeth, David, Debbie, Eliza, David, Felicite, Allison, Emily, iv Sara, Renee, Masaru, Preston, Sy, Wegman, Gina, Rosie, Chris, Jenny, Elizabeth, Yvette, Quincy, Ramon, Kim, Francis, Hal, David, Linda, Tammy, Tina, Selina, Mike, Raul, David, Julian, Trine, Maribel, Lily and Fiona! v TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page ............................................................................................................................. i Approval Page ..................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... xii Abstract ............................................................................................................................ xiii CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY .............................................1 Statement of the Problem .........................................................................................3 Research Question ...................................................................................................3 Justification for the Study ........................................................................................4 Limitations ...............................................................................................................5 Definition of Terms..................................................................................................7 American ......................................................................................................7 American family ..........................................................................................7 Companionate marriage ...............................................................................7 Crude divorce rate ........................................................................................7 Divorce .........................................................................................................7 Expressive individualism .............................................................................7 Growth-fostering relationships ....................................................................8 Individualized marriage ...............................................................................8 Initiator .........................................................................................................8 Institutional marriage ...................................................................................8 vi Long-term marriage .....................................................................................8 Midlife..........................................................................................................8 Mutual empathy ...........................................................................................9 Mutuality ......................................................................................................9 Refined divorce rate .....................................................................................9 CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ............................................................................................10 An Overview of Marriage and Divorce .................................................................11 A Brief History of Marriage in Western Europe ...................................................13 The Political Foundations of United States Marriages ..........................................14 The Ideology of Individualism and the Myth of Individualism