This presentation is accessible only to the Illinois State University community.
- Off-Campus ISU Users: To download this item, click the "Off-Campus Download" button below. You will be prompted to log in with your ISU ULID and password.
Publication Date
2025
Document Type
Poster
Degree Type
Graduate
Department
Psychology
Mentor
Dr. Julie Campbell
Mentor Department
Psychology
Abstract
Learning about the impact of divorce on young adults and children may benefit professionals mentoring those who have experienced the turbulence of divorce. Evidence suggests that a high proportion of people in the United States are affected by divorce. Most have experienced divorce directly or indirectly within their immediate family or friends (Aberg, 2011). The preponderance of negative effects of divorce on child and adolescent development is well documented (Cano & Gracia, 2022). Adolescents and emerging adults who experienced their parents’ divorce may not experience typical developmental milestones in the same way as those from non-divorced families (Dykes & Ward, 2022).
Courses may exist at the graduate level within a specific field of study for those training to become professionals working with individuals going through divorce. Some undergraduate courses in the social sciences include a limited component covering the family dynamics of divorce. However, many professionals teaching adolescents may have knowledge of the effects of divorce or that awareness can create empathy for those experiencing this trauma. Becoming aware of the effects of divorce on an emerging adult can assist those in higher education to strengthen their knowledge of those they teach.
This project documents the implementation of a course centered on the topic of divorce. An honors course was taught in which students were exposed to several topics surrounding divorce and asked to examine their own beliefs about the topic. Students engaged in activities in which they analyzed the relation between parents’ marital status and society’s resulting view of a child. Students examined how milestones during adolescence can be affected by parents’ marital status and family structure. Students examined historical and modern patterns of relationships, marriage, and divorce. The course also included the identification of problems faced by modern marriages and the social and environmental factors that play a role in divorce culture. A summary of the students’ demographics and their reflections about the class are presented.
Recommended Citation
Owusu, Emmanuel and Campbell, Julie, "Implementation of a Course About Divorce in Higher Education" (2025). University Research Symposium. 482.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/rsp_urs/482
