The Role of Divorce Support Groups for Black Christians

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Recommended: Health implication of divorce among children and mothers

Marriage is the foundation of modern society and has historically been present in most civilizations. Marriage is associated with many positive health outcomes and is encouraged across most racial/ethnic groups. According to Sbarra, Law, and Portley (2011), the social institution of marriage has changed much since the 19th century especially in the way it can be terminated. Married African American or Black men are happier, make more money, are less likely to face poverty, and choose healthier behaviors than their counterparts that are divorced (Bachman, Clayton, Glenn, Malone-Colon, & Roberts, 2005). The converse is true for Black women who seem to be the only sub-group not to achieve the universal health and other benefits gained from marriage (Bachman, et al., 2005). This paradox in marital benefits have many implications including lower martial satisfaction and divorce.

In the 21st century, divorce has become commonplace not only in the United States, but in many parts of the world. Franklin and Boddie (2004) reported that within 10 years about 40-50% of American marriages end in divorce. In 2009, the divorce rate in the United States stood at 3.6 per 1,000 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Divorce, however, is not only a social issue, but it has serious health implications. Divorce has been researched extensively and is considered an adverse event (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Adverse events such as personal or parental divorce has been linked to many ailments and conditions including substance abuse, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and premature mortality (Sbarra, Law, & Portley, 2011; CDC, 2009).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010), the...

... middle of paper ...

...Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Stambaugh, S.E., Hector, M.A., & Carr, A.R. (2011). How I remember my parents’

divorce: A Phenomenological investigation. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 32, 121-130. doi.10.3109/01612840.2010.531520

Turney, L., & Pocknee, C. (2005). Virtual focus groups: New frontiers in research. International

Journal of Qualitative Methods, 4(2), Article 3. Retrieved from

http://www.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/4_2/pdf/turney.pdf

United States Census Bureau. (2010). The Black population. (2010). Retrieved from

http://www.census.gov/prod/cen201/briefs/c2010br-06.pdf

United States Census Bureau. (2009). Number, timing, and duration of marriages and divorce:

2009. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p70-125.pdf

Visions Anew. (2010). Women Divorce Support groups. Retrieved from

http://www.visionsanew.org/supportgroups.html

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