title: Enhancing youth outcomes following parental divorce: a longitudinal study of the effects of the new beginnings program on educational and occupational goals.
abstract: This study examined whether the New Beginnings Program for divorced families led to improvements in youth's educational goals and job aspirations 6 years following participation and tested whether several parenting and youth variables mediated the program effects. Participants were 240 youth aged 9 to 12 years at the initial assessment, and data were part of a randomized, experimental trial of a parenting skills preventive intervention targeting children's postdivorce adjustment. The results revealed positive effects of the program on youth's educational goals and job aspirations 6 years after participation for those who were at high risk for developing later problems at program entry. Further, intervention-induced changes in mother-child relationship quality and youth externalizing problems, internalizing problems, self-esteem, and academic competence at the 6-year follow-up mediated the effects of the program on the educational expectations of high-risk youth. Intervention-induced changes in youth externalizing problems and academic competence at the 6-year follow-up mediated the effects of the program on the job aspirations of high-risk youth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. amanda.sigal@asu.edu
authors.forename: Amanda B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sigal
authors.forename: Sharlene A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wolchik
authors.forename: Jenn-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tein
authors.forename: Irwin N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D004243:Divorce / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment