A proposed model for counseling adolescent children of divorced parents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to develop a structured group counseling model for the secondary school counselor to use in helping adolescent children of divorced parents; and (2) determine whether this group experience would have a positive effect on the adolescent's self-concept. In addition, the amount of change in self-concept was correlated with the variables of age, sex, race, age at time of parental divorce, remarriage of parents, and custodial parent. The subjects for this study were 62 junior and senior high school students from the Port Arthur Independent School District, Port Arthur, Texas. All subjects came from divorced homes. Five treatment groups consisting of 37 students ran for a six-week period. The remaining 25 students made up the control group. Secondary school counselors were the leaders for the five treatment groups. A biographical data form was completed for all subjects. The Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS) was used as pretest and posttest for both the experimental and control groups. At the completion of the program, the group leaders and the participants in the experimental group completed evaluation forms.