Divorce as a stressor leading to family crisis - Essay Example

ABCX Model Application to Analyse Divorce as a Stressor Leading To Family Crisis Introduction In the present societal conditions, the living standards of the people have advanced substantially. Despite the advancements in the living standard, widows along with divorce women are seemed to be under deplorable condition. Presently, the stressor i.e. divorce has intensified in this modern day scenario due to various factors that include life expectancies, remarriage rates of men and lack of education among others. In this respect, the married individuals are aware of the legal rights as well as the obligations that are accountable for rise in the count of divorce women. Divorce is identified to be under different psychological stressors that adversely affect the lifestyles, health along with attitudes of the divorced couples (Trivedi et al., 2009). In this regard, the ABCX Model is used as an important tool based on which family stressors and family functioning procedures are identified during stress situations. It also depicts the procedures in accordance with which families can cope with stress, which is associated with divorce. The model comprises four elements that include ‘stressor’, ‘resources’, ‘perception of the stressor’ and ‘crisis’ (Amfani-Joe, 2012). Contextually, the essay emphasizes applying the topic of divorce in relation to four elements of ABCX model in order to have a better understanding of the implications of the stressor in an individual life. Divorce and ABCX Model Divorce generally changes the social life of the individuals due to the loss of supportive aspect. In this respect, divorced couples witnessed to possess lower level of well-being and psychological conditions due to different stress situations that they undergo (Ben-Zur & Michael, 2009). In this regard, the ABCX model is used as an effective measure of coping with such stress situations. The stresses associated with divorce are related with the components of ABCX model in the following section. (i) Stressor According to the article of Rosand et al. (2014), in the present societal scenario, divorce is determined to be increasing specifically in the Western societies by a considerable extent due to various factors that include relationship dissatisfaction, emotional distress and inadequate education programs among others. Divorce is recognised as a stressor, which has the potential of leading crises in families. The divorced individuals face different challenges in their life in relation to financial support, poor mental along with physical health. Divorce is ascertained to be a critical stressor, which is accountable for affecting psychological conditions immensely amid married couples (Rosand et al., 2014). Additionally, Carlsund et al, 2012) in the article stated that divorce is also identified to affect the behaviour as well as the attitude of the children of divorced couples. The children of divorced couples are often inclined towards developing risky behaviours including substance abuse, violence attitudes and unhealthy lifestyles among others. In this regard, divorce is deemed to affect the normative and the external nature of married individuals and their children. Additionally, the aspect of shared physical custody is also identified to be responsible for the risky behaviour (Carlsund et al., 2012). As stated by Velez et al. (2011) & Sigal et al. (2011) in respective articles, divorce is accountable for family crisis due to its greater influence in the developmental competencies and increase susceptibility towards chronic physical as well as mental health among married individuals and children, affecting their volitional nature at large (Velez et al., 2011; Sigal et al., 2011). (ii) Resources Based upon the article of Sigal et al. (2011), the level of stresses that face by divorced couples can be minimised or mitigated with the assistance of different educational programs. The educational programs might assist these couples in obtaining a better idea as well as knowledge based on which their parenting skills are enhanced. In this context, the parents acquiring education programs are able to manage their children in an effective manner. Subsequently, the parents are able to ensure that their children are not inclined towards risky behaviours or attitudes (Sigal et al., 2011). Additionally, Velez et al. (2011) stated that the coping processes might be effective in ensuring the growth and development of divorced parents and their children in an enhanced physical along with psychological manner. In this regard, various factors that include family cohesion, paternal support, parental warmth and firm rule among others are accountable for developing positive attitude and behaviour of children. Subsequently, the coping strategies and factors are taken into concern with the intention of mitigating stress. The stresses associated with divorce can be mitigated in terms of developing effectual social relationship (Velez et al., 2011). (iii) Perception of the Stressor The divorced couples are required to possess positive attitudes towards parent education programs. In this respect, Sigal et al. (2011) in the article noted that the parents might acquire adequate knowledge as well as skills in accordance with which they should ensure a better life with minimum stresses. Moreover, the divorced individuals who are inclined much towards developing conflict reducing competencies from the education programs are often facilitated with the opportunity of alleviating stress from their family life. In this regard, divorced married couples possessing positive cognitive values and skills from their education are able to manage stress in their later life effectively (Sigal et al., 2011). (iv) Crisis Divorce is an important factor, affecting the supportive as well as the social life of married couples by a considerable extent owing to different stressful situations. There lay various crises relating to divorce, affecting the family life of the divorce couples at large (Rosand et al., 2014). In this context, Rosand et al. (2014) signified that inappropriate coping with this particular stressor i.e. divorce will adversely affect the parent-children relationship. Moreover, the physical along with psychological health of the divorced couples and their children might get affected. Respectively, Rosand et al. (2011) implied that the family members under improper management of this stressor might develop certain chronic health problems in future. Additionally, the family members might undergo with the stressful conditions of emotional distress, substance abuse and risky behavioural related problems (Rosand et al., 2014; Sigal et al., 2011). In this regard, it can be apparently observed that the stressor i.e. divorce adversely affects the personal along with the social life of divorced couples and their children. Subsequently, Rosand et al. (2014) argued that families associated with this stressor might undergo with unfavourable influence of stress in case of inappropriate coping process. Moreover, families witnessing the stressor might affect their health, social and personal conditions in an immense manner due to low education level, inadequate coping competencies and lack of parental skills. Respectively, the divorced individuals possessing irrelevant attitudes along with perceptions in relation to divorce might be accountable for developing risky behaviours. Additionally, the children of divorced couples are much inclined towards substance abuse and delinquencies (Rosand et al., 2014). In this respect, it can be comprehended that the four components of the ABCX model are interrelated with each other as it provides an understanding based on which the stressor, resources and perception of stressor are responsible for the family crisis. Conclusion It can be recognised from the foregoing discussion that in the present societal conditions, divorce has increased largely particularly in the Western countries due to remarriage rates, relationship dissatisfaction and emotional distress among others. In this regard, the family life of the divorced couples and their children might get affected due to different stressful situations such as having physical as well as mental health problems, substance abuse, risky behaviours and violence attitudes. In this regard, the ABCX model is used as an effective tool with the assistance of which the stressful conditions relating to divorce can be handled effectively. The above identified components of the model assists in identifying important information about the stressor, resources and perceptions of stressor that are accountable for family crisis. The model also aids in possessing immense knowledge about the interrelationship that exists between stressor and crisis. References Amfani-Joe, C. E. (2012). The double ABC-X Model of adjustment and adaptation: an appropriate model for studies in family stress and coping behaviour theoretical framework in Nigeria. PAT journal, 8(1), 125-133. Ben-Zur, H., & Michael, K. (2009). Social comparisons and well-being following widowhood and divorce. Death Studies, 33(3), 220-238. Carlsund, A., Eriksson, U., Lofstedt, P., & Sellstrom, E. (2012). Risk behaviour in Swedish adolescents: is shared physical custody after divorce a risk or a protective factor? European Journal of Public Health, 23(1), 3-8. Rosand, G. B., Slinning, K., Roysamb, E., & Tambs, K. (2014). Relationship dissatisfaction and other risk factors for future relationship dissolution: a population-based study of 18,523 couples. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49, 109-119. Sigal, A., Sandler, I., Wolchik, S., & Braver, S. (2011). Do parent education programs promote healthy post-divorce parenting? Critical distinctions and a review of the evidence. Family Court Review, 49(1), 120-139. Trivedi, J. K., Sareen, H., & Dhyani, M. (2009). Psychological aspects of widowhood and divorce. Mens Sana Monographs, 7(1), 37-47. Velez, C. E., Wolchik, S. A., Tein, J., & Sandler, I. (2011). Protecting children from the consequences of divorce: A longitudinal study of the effects of parenting on childrens coping processes. Child Development, 82(1), 244-257. Read More