ABSTRACT
This chapter includes the results of analyses, using the NELS 1988-1992 data set, which are based on some criticisms that various theorists have launched against previous studies performed on the effects of divorce and remarriage. A number of these criticisms are directed at certain assumptions that many researchers make before undertaking their analysis. Many of these assumptions are based on the belief that the effects of divorce and remarriage on children are almost purely a socioeconomic phenomenon. Many of these “socioeconomic theorists” believe that virtually all the effects of divorce can be explained by the fact that parental divorce is correlated with a low level of family socioeconomic status. Therefore, if one simply raises the socioeconomic status of a family of divorce, the effects of divorce on children will be nearly removed. In addition, these theorists aver that parental remarriage, which nearly always raises the income component (and perhaps other components) of socioeconomic status, will benefit children to that point that they will perform as well academically as children from intact families. We will examine three hypotheses that address these assumptions.
