Beyond the Average Divorce provides marriage and family scholars and students a rich depiction of how children and adults of all ages respond to diverse divorce experiences. Rather than emphasizing means and averages in looking at "typical" family reactions to divorce, authors David H. Demo and Mark A. Fine emphasize variability and change over time in the pre-divorce, divorce, and post-divorce process. The book's three parts explore theoretical and methodological tools for studying divorce, the divorce process and its multiple pathways, and future directions in research. Key Features Includes cutting-edge research on how children are affected by multiple transitions in family structure and parenting arrangements during the divorce process Covers the most common causes of divorce and how the family environment deteriorates during the years leading up to divorce Provides easy-to-understand descriptions and examples of how specific research methods can be used to study divorce Offers a dynamic theoretical model of divorce and how it is experienced by family members in a wide variety of family situations Discusses policy implications as well as directions for future theoretical, research, and clinical work in this vital area

Beyond the Average Divorce is intendedas a core textbook foruse in upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses in Family Stress and Divorce, Dysfunctional Families, Sociology of the Family, and Couples, Marriage, and Family Counseling."

This work makes a significant contribution to the literature on family process, structure, and well-being. It is a much-needed comparative analysis across marital status (married, divorced, remarried, and never-married women with children). Early chapters are particularly useful for introducing beginning students to the theoretical, conceptual, and policy issues at stake. Clear prose and well-labeled tables make the substantive chapters accessible to students but sacrifice none of the rigor of the analysis. This book provides a thorough review of the literature and systematically addresses a set of questions that are theoretically and politically significant, particularly in light of the continuing concern over the `demise' of the American family. It should enjoy a wide readership in family studies, social work, sociology, and psychology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. --Choice "The authors present the results of their comprehensive and sophisticated data analysis in a very readable style, accompanied by generous use of graphics and practical examples. The findings are presented in such a way that readers with less technical backgrounds can easily comprehend the study results. This book will serve as an excellent supplementary text in both undergraduate and graduate classes. Also, it will be a valuable resource for family life educators and researchers interested in pursuing these questions related to family structure." --Journal of Marriage and the Family How important is traditional family structure to the success of family relationships? With political rhetoric often substituting for credible information, leading family researchers Alan Acock and David Demo separate fact from fiction regarding this crucial policy concern. Based on the authoritative National Survey of Families and Households, the authors' work examines the four most common family types: two-parent families, divorced mothers with children, remarried families, and unwed mothers. Their meticulous analysis of the source material reveals myriad patterns, problems, and solutions not previously discerned, while addressing many familiar issues and assumptions with depth and clarity. Combining sophisticated explications, ample graphics, and practical examples, this volume has a great deal to offer professionals and researchers in family studies, sociology, psychology, interpersonal relationships, and gender studies at all levels.