The Impact of Parental Conflicts after Divorce on the Psychological and Behavioral Health of Adolescent Children (A Field Approach in the City of Jerusalem)

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the impact of interparental conflicts after divorce on the psychological and behavioral health of adolescent children in Jerusalem. Through a field-based approach, the research explored the psychological, behavioral, and social factors associated with this phenomenon within a complex social and cultural context. The study variables included interparental conflicts after divorce (independent variable) and adolescents’ psychological and behavioral health (dependent variable), in addition to several demographic variables such as adolescents’ gender, age, duration of parents’ divorce, place of residence, and parents’ educational level. The study adopted the descriptive–correlational method as it aligns with the nature and objectives of the research. Two measurement instruments were developed—the Interparental Conflict After Divorce Scale and the Psychological and Behavioral Indicators Scale—after verifying their psychometric properties. The sample consisted of 51 adolescent boys and girls from divorced families in Jerusalem, selected through an available sampling method from the Family Center in Jerusalem, based on specific criteria that considered the adolescents’ age range (12–18 years). The findings revealed that the level of interparental conflict after divorce reached 56.7% (moderate level), while the level of psychological and behavioral health among adolescents was 49.0% (low level), indicating a direct negative impact of ongoing parental conflict on adolescents. Results showed no statistically significant differences (α < 0.05) in psychological and behavioral health and its dimensions attributed to gender, age, duration of divorce, place of residence, or parents’ educational level, suggesting that adolescents are similarly affected regardless of demographic differences. Regressionhe simple linear regression analysis indicated a statistically significant effect of interparental conflict after divorce on adolescents’ psychological and behavioral health, explaining 40.5% of the variance, with a negative correlation—meaning that as interparental conflicts increase, adolescents’ psychological and behavioral well-being decreases. The study concluded that post-divorce interparental conflict is one of the most significant factors threatening adolescents’ psychological and behavioral stability in Jerusalem. It recommended activating family and psychological counseling programs to mitigate these effects and providing professional support by social workers and specialists for adolescents affected by ongoing parental disputes.