Consequences of Dating for Post‐divorce Maternal Well‐being

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12319
• Date: 01 August 2016
• Published date: 01 August 2016

M R. L University of Nebraska–Kearney

E R. A University of Texas at Austin*

S M. G University of Texas at Austin**

Consequences of Dating for Post-divorce Maternal

Well-being

Repartnering has been linked to health benets

for mothers, yet few studies have examined

relationship quality in this context. According

to the divorce–stress–adaptation perspective,

relationship quality may inuence the relation-

ship between maternal well-being and dating

after divorce. The current study examines the

consequences of dating, relationship quality,

and dating transitions (breaking up and dating

new partners) on maternal well-being (negative

affect and life satisfaction). Using monthly sur-

veys completed by mothers over a 2-year period

after ling for divorce, we examined changes

in intercepts and slopes of dating status and

transitions for maternal well-being while also

testing the effects of relationship quality. Moth-

ers entering high-quality relationships were

likely to report boosts in well-being at rela-

tionship initiation compared to single mothers

Department of Family Studies, University of

Nebraska–Kearney,2508 12th Ave., Otto Olsen 205B,

Kearney,NE 68849 (langlaismr@unk.edu).

∗The University of Texasat Austin, Human Development

and Family Science, College of Natural Sciences, 108 E.

Dean Keeton St. A2702, SEA 1.142AAustin, TX 78712.

∗∗Department of Human Development and Family Sciences

The University of Texasat Austin, 1 University Station,

A2700, Austin, TX 78712.

This article was edited by Rob Crosnoe.

Key Words: adult outcomes, divorce, relationship quality,

well-being.

and mothers entering low-quality relationships.

Mothers entering lower-quality relationships

were likely to report lower levels of well-being

than single mothers. Dating transitions were

associated with increases in well-being.

Implications for maternal adjustment are

discussed.

Repartnering after divorce is linked to better

psychological and physical health outcomes

for mothers, as it helps to alleviate the nega-

tive effects associated with post-divorce stress

(Amato, 2000; Anderson & Greene, 2005; Heth-

erington, 2003; Skew, Evans, & Gray, 2009;

Wang & Amato, 2000). However, this associa-

tion presumes that any repartnering relationship

is benecial for maternal well-being, indepen-

dent of relationship quality. Only recently have

researchers sought to understand the role of

relationship quality in dating relationships after

divorce, despite previous calls from researchers

(Anderson & Greene, 2005; Cartwright, 2010;

Langlais, Anderson, & Greene, 2015; Symoens,

Colman, & Bracke, 2014). Also, the posi-

tive effects associated with repartnering are

primarily based on research of post-divorce

cohabitating relationships and remarriages

rather than on dating relationships that pre-

cede these relationship experiences (Coleman,

Ganong, & Fine, 2000; Montgomery, Ander-

son, Hetherington, & Clingempeel, 1992; Wu

& Schimmele, 2005). Subsequently, previous

1032 Journal of Marriage and Family 78 (August 2016): 1032–1046

DOI:10.1111/jomf.12319