Study of Correlation Between Divorce and Interpersonal Trust Level

Indianapolis, IN

The stigma attached to divorce and family separation has changed dramatically within the United States. For many years, divorce was considered socially unacceptable. In recent years however, the social normality of divorce has become more tolerable. This acceptance led to overwhelming statistics regarding the effects of divorce throughout a family, an individual, and society as a whole. With the ever-growing normalization of divorce, one thing remains constant in psychology: the importance of trust (Covey, 2006). Divorce can be an experience that impedes or hinders an individual’s ability to find a healthy level of interpersonal trust. Therefore, this study will compare the extent to which parental divorce negatively affects an individual’s level of interpersonal trust. The General Trust Scale will be administered to adults ages 18 to 30 and grouped into those who have experienced parental divorce and those who have not. Results will allow insights for social workers in clinical practice and prevention programming.