Parental divorce, attachment to parents and life satisfaction in Chilean adolescents: a comparative study

While there have been several advances in understanding the effects of divorce on the wellbeing and development of adolescents, one aspect that requires further exploration is whether there are variations in life satisfaction and the quality of attachment relationships among adolescents who have experienced their parents' divorce and those who have not. The present study aimed to assess differences in life satisfaction and the quality of attachment to both mothers and fathers among adolescents from intact families and those who have experienced their parents' divorce. Through a cross-sectional study, a sample of 421 Chilean adolescents aged 12 to 17 was evaluated, with 54.6% being children of married parents and 45.4% being children of divorced parents. Mean difference analyses using t -tests revealed that life satisfaction is higher among children from intact families. Additionally, differences in the quality of attachment to the father, but not to the mother, were detected. Specifically, children of divorced parents reported lower quality of communication, less mutual trust, and greater alienation from their parents than children from intact families. These results, discussed from a clinical perspective, contribute to the understanding of the effects of divorce on Chilean adolescents.