title: Causal explanations and emotional health of women during divorce.
abstract: This study investigated (a) relationships between women's causal explanations for divorce and their present emotional health, and (b) the clinical usefulness of the Personal Stress Inventory (Ireton, 1980) as a stress assessment tool. The convenience sample consisted of 36 women ending a first marriage. Subjects were interviewed using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (Fitts, 1965), the Personal Stress Inventory, and a causal explanations questionnaire. Results indicated that causal explanations did predict self-esteem and emotional distress under conditions suggested by the reformulated learned helplessness model. The Personal Stress Inventory includes an emotional distress subscale that predicted self-esteem, self-perceptions of coping ability, and overall concerns about wellness/energy.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Barron
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D004243:Divorce; D005260:Female; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*