AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
THE RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST AND COMMUNICATION IN ADOLESCENTS TOWARDS
PARENTS IN A POST-DIVORCE FAMILY ARRANGEMENT
a
MIČKOVÁ ZUZANA
University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, J. Herdu 2 Trnava
email:
a
zuzana.mickova@ucm.sk
The paper was created within the project “Risk Behaviour in Adolescence, the
Incidence and Influencing Factors” of the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of
Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and Slovak Academy
of Sciences no. VEGA 1/0042/17.
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Abstract: The study examines the relationship of trust and communication in
adolescents and their parents in divorced families. Attention is focused on the
comparison of these factors in families with sole and shared custody. The research
sample consisted of (N = 76, sole custody N = 48, joint custody N = 28, AM = 11.5).
In order to find out the openness in communication (Hargašová, Kollárik, 1986),
emotional attachment to parents (Armsden, Greenberg, 1987). Administration and
anamnestic data were obtained in counseling-psychological centers with the full
consent of parents. In shared care there is a positive, truthful and open relationship
towards both parents.
Key words: early adolescence, trust, communication, openness, guardianship
1 Introduction
The issue of the current family arrangement includes many
interpretative possibilities in relation to current behavior of the
population - the partnership and family cohabitation, and the
formation of
family relationships (Mičková, 2015a, 2015b;
On
drejkovič, Majerčíková, 2006). All aspects of present family
life have undergone, for a long time, major changes which
resulted in historical, economic and political change. One of the
types of present families is an incomplete family lacking one
parent, and children living with another parent. The reason for
parental absence varies. Our study concentrates on an incomplete
family due to divorce. In such families there is disruption and
disharmony which can negatively interfere with the formation of
a child’s personality. There are studies that confirm problems in
children after divorce, but there are also opposite studies that
highlight the ability to manage problems. Research studies point
to the relationship
between the quality of the family
environment and physical and mental health (Mirowsky, 1996,
Shaw, Krause, 2004; Vaananen, et. al. 2005). However, all
studies agree that the parent-child subsystem is based on mother-
child and father-child bonding. This subsystem determines other
subsystems (Matoušek, 2003). The atmosphere in divorced
family is characterized by handling specific situations based on
their degree of disruption. The most common disruption is an
absence of mutual respect
between parents and disturbed
communications, which results in negative external behaviour
(Pavlát, Šusta, 2008; Bernardelli, 2011;
Mičková, 2015b,c).
Problems are also found in different family formats, because
they form part of everyday life, but the problems in a divorced
family are specific. For example;
in nurturing care, development
of emotional ties with parents, and communication problems.
One of the major factors of emotional
existence is the parent-
child interaction and the level of emotional attachment that keeps
developing, and later creates trust between parent and child.
Creating intimate relationships is an important
aspect of
openness in family communication. The breakdown of marriage
brings different aspects into the family system (Krýslová, 2000;
Armsden, Greenberg, 1987; Simon, 2002; Pavlát, 2012).
A significant difference in post-divorce family is usually the
absence of one parent. Limited contact with one parent brings
different approaches in communication development
(Špaňhelová, 2009). According to Mičková (2016), family issues
represent an enormous number of aspects that cannot be
analyzed at the same time. Focusing on specific issues in the
family makes it possible to search, discuss and find
interrelationships in specific areas of a familes system. Using
this approach, as stated by König (and in that case), it is possible
to analyze what a current family actually is. Part of every familes
system is a dimension that shapes the quality of life as well as
the dimension of emotional thriving. The focus of the study is
the perception of trust in adolescents, and their communication
with parents in a post-divorce family arrangement.
2 Characteristics of the Problems
The divorced family arrangement brings other types of conflict.
Family members are emotionally attached to each other, and
these emotions may be the cause of destructive relationships
between parents, but also between parents and adolescents.
Parents focus on their own rules, they ignore the demands of the
other parent, which may be another reason for disruption in
relationships and communication (Sturge-Apple, et. al. 2010).
Such a family environment may cause a problem in the
spontaneous expression of emotions (Wilmot, Hocker, 2004) and
open communication (Bernardelli 2011, Micková, 2016). One of
the reasons for communication interference is existing conflicts
between parents. Aspects of family crisis constitute a set of
stimulants involved in creating integrity. These dynamic
stimulants are linked to the ability to communicate as well as an
ability to trust (Erikson, 2002; Bowlby 2012 ai.). The dynamics
of a family environment are also associated with the natural
overcoming of family crisis, however a post-divorce family
environmnet shows evidence that crisis situations in a family
have not been resolved. The divorce settlement brings changes
that affect emotional, economical and legal areas of the family
(Matoušek, 1997). Solving post-divorce situations brings a
personal burden to all family members. From a Psychological
point of view, it can be
seen as an ability to cope with change in
a new family situation. One of the major changes involves the
post-divorce parenting process. In relation to adolescence, it is
important to master the parental role as well as the role of being
a friend. This role includes the ability to accept the adolescent's
needs and thus to create space for the other parent to
continuously fulfill parental tasks which are in an adolescent's
interest. It is important to accept and respect the needs of the
adolescent as well as accept the second parent; this creates space
for the formation of parental agreements, based on the ability of
both parents to cooperate in the joint plan for rearing their
children. More often, however, parents battle over childcare, and
are trying to exclude the other parent from the child’s
upbringing. Such effort in parental behavior results in
escalating
disputes between them (Micková, 2014). The adjustment of
parental rights and obligations is implemented through a court’s
decision. However, with the change in current male and female
family roles, the view of post-divorce care also changes. The
traditional sole custody model of care is no longer the only
option in post-divorce existence. Sole care is based on beliefs
that a child is based in one place which should ensure stability
and certainty. Legal and physical education
is entrusted to one
parent while the other parent is only provided with visiting
arrangements. The other parent has the right to visit a child, as
well as an obligation to participate in his or her quality of life by
fulfilling his or her maintenance costs. For a fulfilling
relationship with both parents, it is desirable to create a parental
agreement that eliminates conflicts between parents and creates
space for the spontaneous interaction with both parents.
Another
form of childcare is shared custody in separate households.
The benefit of shared custody is that it creates more options than
sole custody (Warshak, 1996). Nowadays, shared custody is
preferred because the role of both mother and father can be
greatly enhanced. The important condition of this form of
childcare is the willingness and ability of both parents to
communicate about everything related to a child’s upbringing.
Support for this model is found in the changing roles of both
men and women, and not only on the social level. As stated by
Potančok (2010), the status of men and women has changed
significantly toward the end of the 20th century. This change is
noticeable in the ever-changing role of a mother and father in a
family environment. The father's family role has changed more
than a mother's over the past decade. Although women are now
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