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Are premarital individuals who have experienced parental divorce likely to be poorer communicators than those whose parents have not divorced? Sometimes it is assumed that this is the case. However recent US research suggests that this might be just a stereotypical myth. A study by Chris Segrin and Melissa Taylor in 2006 examined the association between experience of parental divorce and relational communication skills in a sample of 111 premarital couples. Couples participated in a laboratory problem-solving interaction from which communication skills were assessed. The results indicated no consistent associations between parental divorce and either lower communication skills or lack of confidence in their own or their partner’s capacity to relate well. In fact, there was some evidence that those who had experienced parental divorce had some advantages in that they were able to more accurately judge their partner’s ability to relate effectively. This finding suggests that premarital educators and counselors need to exercise caution so as to avoid making assumptions that simply do not apply to the majority of couples. It is a reminder to us that we need to be open to becoming aware of the exact qualities of the couples we work with and not to allow inaccurate stereotypical assumptions to shortcut and impede that process. Reference: Segrin, C., & Taylor, M. (2006). A Social Cognitive Analysis of
the Effects of Parental Divorce on Premarital Couples' Communication Skills.
Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 46, 57-83.
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