After the Marriage Is Over: Mothers' Separation Distress and Children's Postdivorce Adjustment

Objective We examine whether (direct effect) and how (indirect effect) residential mothers' postdivorce separation distress is associated with children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Background The consequences of postdivorce separation distress for adults, and specifically parents, have been established. Because research has also identified interdependent associations between parents' and children's postdivorce adjustment, it is possible that parents' separation distress has negative implications for children's postdivorce adjustment as well. Method This study uses longitudinal, multimethod, multiinformant data from divorcing mothers and their children (N = 319 mother–child dyads). Families were recruited from divorce court records within 120 days of divorce filing. Hierarchical linear modeling techniques, path analysis, and mediation models were used to achieve the goals of the study. Results Mothers' separation distress was significantly associated with increases in children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Mothers' co‐parenting conflict mediated the link between mothers' separation distress and children's internalizing but not externalizing behaviors. Ineffective parenting did not mediate the links between separation distress and children's internalizing or externalizing behaviors. Conclusion Residential mothers' postdivorce separation distress has direct and indirect implications for their children's postdivorce adjustment. Implications Professionals can promote postdivorce family adjustment by acknowledging the consequences of residential mothers' separation distress and assisting those who experience it. Practitioners can also use this study's findings to inform co‐parenting education programs.