Department(s)
Social Science
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2011
Abstract
The meaning-making process can be crucial to individuals as they adjust to their divorce. Demonization is a negative coping response (also known as spiritual struggle) that involves appraising someone or something as related to demonic forces. Individuals may cognitively frame a divorce as the work of Satan in order to understand suffering while maintaining beliefs in a just world or benevolent God. In this study, nearly half (48%) of the community sample (N = 100) endorsed some form of demonization related to their recent divorce. Differences were observed in psychological postdivorce adjustment (post-traumatic stress, depression, anger, and positive/negative spiritual emotions) among groups with differing levels of demonization of divorce, demonization of ex-spouse, and demonization of self (none, low, and high). Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.
Publication Title
Family Relations
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2010.00635.x
Recommended Citation
Krumrei, E. J., Mahoney, A., & Pargament, K. I. (2011). Demonization of divorce: Prevalence rates and links to post-divorce adjustment. Family Relations, 60, 90103. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2010.00635.x