Parent–Child Communicational Characteristics: A Comparison Study between Subjects from Post-Divorce and Intact Nuclear Families

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of divorce seems to have impact on parent–child communication, with subsequent implications on the children well-being and development. The present study aims to analyze the influence that divorce has on parent–child communication comparing 102 participants from post-divorced families and 100 participants from intact nuclear families. Measures consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire and Perception Scale of Parenting Communication. Despite literature indicators, the main findings reveal the absence of significant statistical differences between both family structures, concerning to parent–child communication. Overall, it was registered some statistically significant differences concerning to specific divorce variables. These findings demystifying the idea that post-divorce families establish less positive communication patterns when compared with intact nuclear families.

KEYWORDS:

• Parent–child communication
• post-divorce families
• intact nuclear families
• school-age children
• adolescents

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Science and Technology Foundation (grant number: SFRH/BD/63340/2009); Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal.