Effectiveness of a community group intervention program on adjustment to separation and divorce

Abstract

This study explores adjustment to separation and divorce and the effects of participating in a small regional community agency group intervention program. Prior to participation in group intervention, participants were interviewed for suitability and invited to complete the pre-intervention questionnaires comprising demographics, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale and the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale. Of the forty-four participants that started the program, twenty females and ten males completed the group intervention program. Following completion, the post-intervention questionnaires were administered to participants. Some differences in adjustment to separation and divorce were noted for men and women pre-intervention on the Social Support Appraisal Scale. However, no gender differences were noted on the adjustment scales post-intervention. Overall, the results indicate that participants made significant adjustment gains following participation on all adjustment scales. This result implies there are short-term benefits of attending a group intervention program aimed at improved adjustment to separation and divorce.