ADAPTATION TO DIVORCE-SEPARATION OF PARENTS AND SELF-ESTEEM IN ADOLESCENTS AGED 13 TO 17 IN THE CITY OF CUENCA

Abstract

Parental divorce can have a profound impact on adolescents' emotional well-being and psychological development. The study found that conflicts arising from parental separation can affect adolescents' psychological and emotional well-being, particularly their self-esteem. The objective was to analyze adolescents' adaptation to parental divorce or separation and self-esteem, ages 13 to 17, in the city of Cuenca. A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational approach was used, with a non-probabilistic sample of 104 adolescents (71% female, mean age = 15.15 years) and 103 parents (70% female, mean age = 42.79 years). The instruments used were the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Divorce-Separation Adjustment Questionnaire (CAD-S). The results revealed that there is no correlation between adolescents' adaptation to parental divorce or separation and self-esteem. Likewise, the CAD-S dimensions related to psychological difficulties (M = 15.26) and negative consequences for children (M = 13.39) had a greater influence on adolescents' self-esteem. Statistical analysis, including Spearman's rank correlation test, provided a deeper understanding of the relationships among the variables.