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The Role of Self-Blame in Children's Adjustment to Parental Separation

Harvard Community Health Plan Boston, Massachusetts

Abigail J. Stewart

University of Michigan

Anne P. Copeland

Boston University

A longitudinal study of a nonclinical sample of 6- to 12-year-old children of divorcing parents examined the incidence, antecedents, and correlates of feelings of self-blame about parental separation during the first 18 months after the breakup. About one third of the children reported some feelings of self-blame at 6 months after the separation; I year later this figure had dropped to 20%. Being caught in triadic relations with the two parents was associated with self-blame, but parental disagreement over child rearing and a history of physical, mental, or school problems were not. The consequences of self-blame for children's adjustment to the separation were primarily negative, according to self-, mother, and teacher ratings. Children who reported feelings of self-blame had lower perceived competence, more psychological symptoms, and more behavior problems.

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