Hayley Sorensen BA, CCLS

1. Research ProspectusHow might the Infant-Mother attachment be affected by parental marital separation/divorce? Hayley Sorensen BA, CCLS

2. Statement of the Problem • The divorce rate continues to rise each year • Many children will experience his or her parents divorcing as half of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce. • Of all children who experience the divorce of their parents by the age of five, 40% do so in the first year of life.

3. Purpose of Study • The purpose of this qualitative study is to thoroughly examine what is known about marital divorce and or separation and how that might affect infant-mother attachment. • This phenomenological research study is seeking to describe experiences as they are lived, thus I would capture the lived experiences of separated/divorced mothers and their infant/toddlers.

4. Literature Review • Infants and toddlers are especially vulnerable to the emotional and physical effects of divorce. • Specific challenges that infants and toddlers may face when parents divorce are the following: separation, high levels of conflict and hostility and maternal depression and anxiety. • Following separation or divorce, the infant’s attachment system is more than likely to be aroused by the physical separation and reunions that go along with joint custody or visitation with a non-custodial parent.

5. Literature Review • Divorce during infancy does have negative effect on the infant-mother attachment. • Studies also suggest that divorce during infancy does not affect the infant-mother attachment. • No research to date has shown how it might feel for an infant to experience this who does not yet have the cognitive capabilities to express his or her self.

6. Research Design • Phenomenological qualitative study • Phenomenological research seeks to describe rather than explain. • Starts from a perspective which is free from hypotheses of preconceptions or bias. • phenomenological research implements methods such as observation, interviews, journaling

7. Research Design • Interviews • How do you feel about being separated from your child’s father? What are the emotions/feelings you have today? • What if any challenges do you face today? • Describe if any, positive outcomes from the separation? • Describe your routines with your child. • How, if at all, has your relationship with your child changed since you have been separated? • Describe a typical day for you and your child….what is different and what is the same since the separation? Why do you think this is the case? • Observation • Journaling

8. Data Collection • Reviewing all data • Journals • Observations • Interviews • Looking for recurring patterns or feelings or thoughts among participants - Coding • Data analysis in phenomenological research attempts to make sense of the participant's own experiences.

9. Data Analysis • Data analysis process in phenomenological research aims to examine the lived experience, rather than impositions of other people’s interpretation. • In phenomenological research, it is important that the researcher set aside any prejudgments. • According to Creswell (1998), phenomenological data analysis follows a methodology of reduction, the analysis of specific statements and themes, and a search for all possible meanings.