ABSTRACT
Although the relationships between parental divorce and numerous aspects of psychological adjustment in children have been examined extensively, to date few investigations have included countries outside the Western mainstream. The present study, part of a larger investigation of divorce in the Balkan region, examined relationships between parents' marital status, and the mental health, views of mothers and views of fathers in a sample of Bulgarian University students. One hundred (100) students, 50 from divorced parents, and 50 from intact homes attending the University of Sofia completed the 28-items of the General Health Questionnaire and Parish's Personal Attribute Inventory. Students from divorced homes reported significantly more psychological difficulties in general than their peers from intact homes. Moreover, students whose parents were divorced reported significantly 180more somatic complaints and problems of depression than students whose parents were married. A significant interaction between parents' marital status and gender was obtained regarding symptoms of anxiety and insomnia: whereas male students from divorced homes reported more difficulties than female students, the reverse was true for students from intact families. Regarding views of fathers, students from divorced homes reported significantly more negative attitudes toward their fathers than students from intact homes. A similar trend was obtained with respect to views of mothers. These findings are discussed with respect to the existing literature. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressuic.com> Website: < https://www.HaworthPress.com > © 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
