Abstract

Continuing changes in marital and divorce behaviour bring about changes in family type for growing adolescents. Previous research has shown that these changes may influence relational expectations. Other elements associated with parental divorce, e.g. parental conflict, may also influence these expectations. The overall research question of this article is: what is the impact of family type and parental conflict on the relational expectations of adolescents? Using data from Leuvens Adolescenten- en Gezinnen Onderzoek, the influence on the expected divorce rate and the expected preference to marry of Flemish adolescents were examined. Results show that adolescents whose parents were divorced estimate their divorce rate higher than others and have the lowest odds to express a preference for an own marriage. Interestingly, a difference was found between adolescents whose parents were (once) married and adolescents whose parents were (once) cohabiting. Furthermore, adolescents experiencing a low rate of parental conflict indicate a lower expected divorce rate and have higher odds to prefer a future marriage than adolescents living in high-conflict families. Moreover, when parents are divorced, adolescents whose residence parent is remarried have higher odds to prefer a future marriage than adolescents whose residence parent is single. No influence was found concerning the relationship status of the residence parent on the expected divorce rate. Also no influence of the evolution of parental conflict and no influence of the conflict between the residence and the stepparent was found, neither on the expected divorce rate nor on the preference for a marriage.

How to Cite:

Mertens, N., (2015) “De invloed van gezinsvorm en ouderlijk conflict op relationele toekomstverwachtingen: een onderzoek bij Vlaamse jongeren”, Sociologos 36(3), 239–263. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86888