Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

Influence of Parental Divorce on Trust in College Students Romantic Relationships

Natasha Miner

SCOM 280

Spring 2014

minerna@dukes.jmu.edu

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

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Abstract

This paper proposes research that examines college student perceptions of trust in their
romantic relationships depending on their parents marital status. Research suggests that trust in
romantic relationships is influenced by divorce such as depression or anger as well as causing
their partner to snoop around. Divorce in childhood can cause children to lack feelings of
security, intimacy, commitment and socio economic issues in the future. To study this question, a
survey will be given to test this research question.

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

In 2013, about 50% of marriages ended in divorce (Schmitz, 2013). Divorce affects not
only the couple but also the whole family. Alexander (2007) claims, The divorce of ones
parents is generally one of the most painful events in life (para.1). Therefore this paper proposes
a research project to answer this question: Do college students who have divorced parents have
different perceptions of trust in romantic relationships compared to college students of nondivorced parents?
One reason this topic is important to study is because divorce has become a common
occurrence. Jasmin (2013) states that in America there is one divorce every 13 seconds, with
about 6,646 divorces happening each day and 46,523 divorces per week (para. 3). Putting these
numbers into an even bigger perspective, that means 50% of all American marriages end in
divorce (Jasmin, 2013, para. 2). Thus, these divorce rate numbers suggest that divorce most
likely will have effects on college students.
A second reason this topic is important to study is because research has indicated that
childrens future relationships can be affected by divorce. For example, Orion (2014) writes that
the effects of divorce on adult children can cause bouts of anger which can sometimes be
misattributed, therefore seeking support is necessary (para.1). In addition Doughty (2012)
writes, People who suffer stresses such as parental divorce in childhood are at a higher risk of
social and psychological problems later in their adult lives (para.14). Thus, this study might
reveal another future effect of divorce on children.
Lastly, research has indicated that trust is important to developing relationships. For
example, Bowlbys attachment theory states that bonds formed by children with their caregivers
have a tremendous impact that continues throughout life (Cherry, n.d.). Research suggests that
experiencing the divorces of ones parents can lead to lower levels of interpersonal trust (Ross

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

& Miller, 2009, p.251). Researching this topic might increase understanding of the influence of
divorce.
The main purpose of this paper is to framework the process of answering the research
question: Do college students who have divorced parents have different perceptions of trust in
romantic relationships compared to college students of non-divorced parents? Therefore, there
are two main sections in this paper. The first is the literature review, which will discuss literature
related to the proposed question. This will be followed by the methodology, which proposes a
way to test if JMU students with divorced parents experience trust issues in their romantic
relationships. The proposal concludes with a summary of the main ideas and findings of the
paper.
Literature Review
To find research related to the proposed research topic, the Communication and Mass
Media Complete and JSTOR databases were used to collect articles. The keywords used have
been divorce, divorce affecting young adults, divorce rates in the US, how parental divorce
influence adult relationships, divorce and trust, college students and trust, relationships and trust,
divorce and college students, and divorce and children. Scholarly articles were selected that
relate to the proposed research question. Because little research on trust in romantic relationships
was found, literature about trust in relationships in general was reviewed. Therefore, three main
sections have been established from the articles that were reviewed. The first discusses in general
the impact of divorce on trust, followed by divorce in childhood, which focuses more on how
parental divorce in childhood impacts children, and finally trust in relationships.

Divorce and Trust

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

Researchers who have studied divorce have disagreed on how strongly the divorce of
one's parents influences trust in future relationships. Some researchers have found that divorce
appears to influence trust in college students. For example, Van Schaick and Stolberg (2001)
surveyed psychology students regarding how parental involvement and parental divorce impacts
trust. They found that the more parents are involved more in their childrens lives, the more they
will trust, and the less parents are involved, the less trust there is. As well, they found that if
parents were divorced as well as not involved in their childrens lives, then the childrens ability
to trust is more detrimental. They concluded that trust as well as divorce can cause children to
lack feelings of intimacy, security, and commitment issues. Similar to Van Schaick and Stolberg
(2001), Kirk (2008) surveyed undergraduates about their family life and parents divorce to
determine if any trust issues prevailed because of divorce in ones family. Kirk found that
individuals who have parents who are divorced have lower satisfaction in their romantic
relationships as well as fear to trust their significant others.
On the other hand, a few studies contradict with Van Schaick and Stolbergs (2001), and
Kirks (2008) findings. For example, Ross and Miller (2009) surveyed 115 general education
psychology students about their family life. From the study, Ross and Miller (2009) concluded
that college students feelings of trust were not impacted by whether their parents were divorced.
Ross and Millers (2009) findings were similar to an earlier study by Mahl in (2001). In Mahls
(2001) study, 28 students between the ages of 16-29 were surveyed about their romantic
relationships and the effects of their parents divorce. Mahl concluded that having parents who
are divorced actually improved relationships and trust because the students do not want to
experience the same results their parents did.

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

South (2013) reported broader findings related to divorce and trust. South (2013)
surveyed 50 college students about their family life as well as demographic questions such as
age. As far as trust was concerned, South (2013) concluded that those college-aged students
whose parents were divorced only once had no change in their trust. Those whose parents were
divorced more than once, though, developed a sense of fear to trust due to their parents marital
problems.
Divorce in Childhood
Aside from trust, researchers who have studied divorce in childhood have studied other
ways that divorce might impact the childrens future. Wijckmans and Van Bavel (2013) studied a
panel of 8000 people ranging in ages from 18-79 to determine if having experienced parental
divorce in childhood impacts family life and obligations as a member of the family. To their
surprise, they found that it does not affect relationships with significant others as much as it can
cause depression, which can impact obligations as a parental figure in the future.
Similarly, Black (2009) found comparable results. Black (2009) surveyed 205
psychology undergraduates about their demographics, their recollections of their parents
relationship from their childhood, their attachment to their parents, and then their feelings in their
romantic relationships. Black (2009) found that having a close bond with mothers created a
greater sense of trust and a close relationship with fathers created a greater sense of security,
regardless of whether or not ones parents were divorced.
On the other hand, Wauterickx, Gouwy, and Bracke (2008) as well as Carranza, Kilmann,
and Vendemia (2009) found differing results. In a survey of 4,727 men and women living in
Belgium, Wauterickx et. al. (2008) found that childhood divorce can cause depression in young
adults as well as can cause anger or lower levels trust and self-esteem towards their significant

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

others in their adult romantic relationships. Similarly, in a survey of 219 undergraduate students
using the Relationship Scales Questionnaire to measure four attachment patterns, Carranza et. al.
(2009) found that for males, having security in their relationships after parental divorce was
strongly influenced by their attachment with their mothers. Carranza et. al (2009) concluded that
parental divorce impacts adult relationships even more if it causes hardships between parents and
their children.
Roth, Harkins, and Eng (2014) also found evidence to support that divorce in childhood
affects trust and romantic relationships. Roth et. al. surveyed 32 undergraduate females who had
experienced parental divorce between the ages of 7-13, using the Adult Divorce and Sibling
Relationship Interview. They found that those young women willing to have romantic
relationships lacked confidence in them. The researchers also concluded that a majority of the
women surveyed were not willing to partake in a romantic relationship.
Trust in Romantic Relationships
Because of the importance of trust in romantic relationships, researchers have looked at
other factors that influence trust. For example, Uysal, Lin, and Bush (2012) surveyed 172
participants in heterosexual relationships, asking them to rate their trust in their relationships
with their significant others as well as their self-concealment to their partner. In a follow up
survey, Uysal et. al. (2012) asked the same questions to determine if there was any change. The
researchers concluded that more self-concealment and openness in relationships can cause loss of
trust with partners.
Similarly, Cui, Finchman and Durtschi (2011) in a survey of 571 students and assessed
how their parental divorce affects their attitude towards romantic relationships as well as how it
might influence their young adult behaviors. In their results, Cui et. al, found their parents

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

divorce impacted their willingness to stay committed to their romantic relationships along with
causing physical aggression and lack of ability to believe their partners.
Sailor (2013) found similar results. Sailor surveyed eight couples who had fallen out of
romantic love with their partner. Sailor asked the participants to create a list of reasons their
relationships failed. Sailor (2013) concluded that loss of trust was the number one factor that
caused the relationship to end. Sailor found that behaviors such as snooping around in their
partners things, lying on numerous occasions, or cheating on their partner caused loss of trust.
In an earlier study Derby and Knox (2012) also examined the influence of snooping and
found similar results. Derby and Knox (2012) surveyed 268 undergraduates about how many had
snooped, defined as following their partner or going through their belongings without their
knowledge. The researchers found that 66 percent of the participants had snooped around at least
once. Derby and Knox (2012) concluded that a majority had snooped because of a lack of trust
between partners. They also concluded that those couples that were caught snooping due to trust
issues tended to develop grater trust issues as well, resulting in many failed relationships.
Schneider, Konijn, Righetti, and Rusbult (2011) conducted a longitudinal study with 187
couples to examine the relationships between trust in their romantic relationships and personal
health. They concluded that having low levels of trust in relationships can cause health problems
such as anxiety and depression. Over time, in the study, as trust between partners improved, so
did health (Schneider, et al., 2011).
Understanding how divorce can influence trust, how it can influence in it childhood, and
how it can impact trust in romantic relationships is important in understanding how divorce as a
whole in childhood can affect relationships. The research suggests conflicting findings regarding
the type and amount of influence divorce has on trust in future romantic realationships.

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

Therefore the findings from the proposed study may lend support to one side or the other and
increase understanding of the relationship between divorce and trust.
Methodology
To study the impact parental divorce has on college student trust in romantic
relationships a survey will be used to collect data.
Participants
For this proposal, undergraduate students at James Madison University between the ages
of 18-23 will be surveyed. The goal of the survey is to measure how perceptions of trust in
romantic relationships are impacted by parental divorce. According to the James Madison
University 2013-1014 enrollment numbers, there are 20,138 students therefore a good
representative sample would be approximately 377 students. This number was determined by
calculating the 95 percent confidence interval of 19,722 students, which determined that 377
would be the sample size. In this study, the independent variable is college students with
divorced parents versus non-divorced parents, and the dependent variable is their perceptions of
trust in their romantic relationships.
There are a number of different ways that participants will be recruited. First, by asking
those in the JMU community (sororities, fraternities, clubs, general education classes, etc.) will
be asked to take the survey. This will be done by using social media such as Facebook or Twitter
but can also be accomplished by sending out an email to the entire JMU community. Using
social media will assure upperclassman have the chance to complete the survey. Second,
instructors will be asked to allow their students to take this survey as a form of extra credit. This
can be done using the Sona System, focusing on GCOM classes. Because any undergraduate at
JMU regardless of their major can complete this survey, it allows for more data to be collected.

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Survey
The survey will begin with demographic questions such as their year in college, age,
gender, whether or not their parents are divorced and if so then at what age, and lastly if they
have ever been in a romantic relationships. These questions are important to be asked because
this will weed out those students that do not fit the criteria. If the participants do not meet the
criteria, which are if they are under 18 or over 23 or if they have never been in a romantic
relationship, then their responses will not be recorded.
The independent variable, whether ones parents are divorced or not will be measured
nominally. The survey will ask participants if their parents are together or not and if they are not,
around what age group in childhood or young adulthood did they divorce. This will allow the
ability to make conclusions regarding parental divorces affects on relationships.
Through a questionnaire of 5 questions, the dependent variable, perceptions in trust in
romantic relationships will be measured using a likert scale. According to Lewick and Bunker
(n.d.), trust is defined as a state involving confident positive expectations about anothers
motives with respect to oneself in situations involving risk (p. 2). This means having no doubt,
refraining from snooping, and having the ability to believe he or she will make the right decision
in situations regarding the relationship. To capture these concepts, questions regarding their trust
in their relationships due to their parents divorce or if their romantic relationships have ended
due to lack of trust with their partner will be asked. These questions come from a previous study
in which Carlson (2009) surveyed children on the long-term effects of their parents divorce,
such as trust as well as their willingness to commit to others. In the study, Carlson (2009) used
the 1997 Merriam-Websters definition of trust which states that it is an assured reliance on the

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character, strength, or truth of someone or something; a basis of reliance, faith, or hope;

confident hope. Therefore, to conduct this survey, the same definition will be used.
A pretest will be done to determine the effectiveness of the survey. This pretest will be
given to a group of 15 JMU undergraduate students whose parents are divorced, most likely
friends. Their responses will measure validity as well as accuracy of the survey to determine if it
can be used to test the sample size.
Analysis
When answering the research question, the independent variable, whether ones parents
are or are not divorced is a nominal scale variable. The dependent variable, perceptions of trust
will be measured using the likert scale. Because the independent variable has two categories,
ones parents being or not being divorced, and the dependent variable is being measured using an
interval scale, the statistical test that will be used in a t-test. If the results of all these tests are
significant, conclusions can be made that parental divorce is associated with trust issues. As
well, a subgroup, age of divorce, a nominal variable, which will be tested using a significance
of p < 0.05.
Permissions
To allow for this survey, permission from the Institutional Review Board needs to be
granted. Also, students need to be informed before they take this survey that it is one anonymous
as well as all personal answers are confidential. Finally, permission from instructors to allow this
survey as extra credit needs to be given.
Limitations
There are a few limitations that might be faced when answering this research question.
One is the amount of participation received by students. If teachers fail to offer students to take

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the survey as extra credit, there may be minimal incentive to complete it. Therefore asking
permission from the teacher to talk to their class may help overcome this limitation. As well, if
students do not check social media regularly or they do not check their email often, they may not
hear about the survey. Thirdly, participants who have never been in a romantic relationship will
be exited from the survey therefore causing significant decrease in data that can be used. Lastly,
students could fail to answer the survey questions accurately. If they do not particularly care
about the subject matter, it could result in them not answering some questions or just randomly
answering them.
Ethical
Although the survey being taken is anonymous it is important it remains that way.
Releasing participants names or linking their answers to who they are would be considered
unethical. As well, it is important there is reliability and validity and no answers are skewed due
to bias or changing of answers. This is strictly a factual as well as partly opinionated survey;
therefore they are not right or wrong answers.
Conclusion
As shown in the research examined, divorce is very prevalent nowadays. Not only is
divorce prevalent but it can also cause negative consequences for children and young adults of
divorced parents. Therefore, it is necessary to understand what sort of negative consequences are
caused and why they come about. This proposal therefore asks for permission to study the
relationship between students with or without divorced parents and their perceptions of trust
issues in their romantic relationships.

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References
Alexander, S. (2007, August). Adult children of divorce. The Ohio State University Extension.
Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/pdf/Adult_Children_Divorce.pdf
Black, K. A. & Schutte, E. D. (2009). Recollections of being loved: Implications of childhood
experiences with parents for young adults romantic relationships. Journal of Family
Issues, 27, 1459-1480. doi: 10.1177/0192513X06289647
Carlson, M. (2009). The long-term effects of divorce on children: Can they succeed in personal
relationships? University of Wisconsin-Stout. Retrieved from
http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2009/2009carlsonm.pdf
Carranza, L. V., Kilmann, P. R., & Vendemia, J. M. C. (2009). Links between parent
characteristics and attachment variables for college students of parental divorce.
Adolescence, 44(174), 253-271. Retrieved from Communication and Mass Media.

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Cherry, K. (n.d.) Attachment theory677hh : The attachment of emotional bonds. About.com:

Education in Psychology. Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/a/attachment01.htm
Cui, M., Fincham, F. D., & Durtschi, J. A. (2011). The effect of parental divorce on young
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Relationships, 18, 410-426. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01306.x
Derby, K. & Knox, D. (2013). Snooping in romantic relationships. College Student Journal,
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Doughty, S. (2012, November 7). Why divorce will always take a toll on the children. Daily
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http://dailyinfographic.com/divorce-in-america-infographic
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Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/
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Divorce and Remarriage, 38(1/2), 61-89. doi:10.1300/J087v38n01_04
Lewicki, R., & Bunker, B. (n.d.) Trust in relationships. Conflict Cooperation and Justice.
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omp10_TrustInRelationships.pdf
Mahl, D. (2001). The influence of parental divorce on romantic relationship beliefs of young
adults. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 34(3/4), 89-118.
doi:10.1300/J087v34n03_06

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Orion, C. (2014). Lasting effects on adult children of divorce. Demand Media. Retrieved from
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/lasting-effects-adult-children-divorce-13269.html
Ross, L. T. & Miller, J. R. (2009). Parental divorce and college students: The impact of family
unpredictability and perceptions of divorce. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 50(4),
248-259. doi:10.1080/10502550902790746
Roth, K. E., Harkins, D. A., & Eng, L. A. (2014). Parental conflict during divorce as an
indicator of adjustment and future relationships: A retrospective sibling
study. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 55(2), 117-138. doi:
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Sailor, J. L. (2013). A phenomenological study of falling out of romantic love. The Qualitative
Report 2013, 18(37), 1-22. Retrieved from Communication and Mass Media.
Schmitz, A. (2013). Do 50% of marriages really end in divorce? Fox News Magazine. Retrieved
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South, A. L. (2013). Perceptions of romantic relationships in adult children of divorce. Journal
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Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

Van Schaick, K. & Stolberg, A. L. (2001). The impact of paternal involvement and parental
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Communication and Mass Media.

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Appendix
Divorce and Perceptions of Trust in Romantic Relationships Survey Questions
Survey
Demographic Questions:
1. What is your age?
a. -18 (exit survey)
b. 18
c. 19
d. 20
e. 21
f. 22
g. 23
h. 24+
2. What is your gender?
a. Male
b. Females
3. Are your parents divorced?
a. Yes
b. No
4. If they are divorced, how old were you?
a. 0-3
b. 4-6
c. 7-10
d. 11-14
e. 15-18
5. Have you been in a romantic relationship, defined as an intimate relationship of 6 months
of longer, while in college?
a. Yes
b. No
Think about your own romantic relationships, then answer each question regarding your feelings
in that relationship. Circle the best answer using the scale provided:
Strong Agree (SA)

Agree (A) Neither (N) Disagree (D) Strongly Disagree (SD)

Divorces Influence on Perceptions of Trust

6. In general, I are less likely to trust others due to your parents divorce.
SA

SD

7. I tend to have lower trust in my romantic relationship with my partner.

SA

SD

8. Many of my romantic relationships have ended due to lack of trust between my partner
and myself.
SA

SD

9. I follow through when making a commitment to my partner.

SA

SD

10. I feel open to disclose information about myself to my partner because I trust them.
SA

SD

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