To: Rebecca Agosta

From: Kristen Kirkwood

Date: September 30th, 2014
Subject of Inquiry: Do children from broken families struggle more with relationships
and marriage?
Initial Inquiry Idea: I want to know if children with divorced parents now hold a negative
view on relationships and marriage after seeing their parents marriage fail. Personally,
when my parents divorced when I was 7, I didnt think much of it, but then as time went
on I found out why they divorced and became skeptical of men. Im interested in this
topic because I want to see if other people reacted like I did. I do believe in marriage still,
but I also believe in making sure you are marrying the right person for you before making
that commitment, and also before getting children involved.
Methods: I want to start off by interviewing my brother and sister, because I honestly do
not know how the divorce affected their personal lives. I also want to ask my step brother
because his parents divorced for a different reason and at a different time in his life. From
my home town, I have two friends whos parents got divorced when they were younger
than me. I just met a guy whose parents are currently going through a divorce and hes
25, so I think it would be interesting to get his take on it. I will also be reading articles
probably from Psychology journals.
Root Questions
1.) Do children from broken families struggle more with relationships and marriage?
2.) Does the age in which their parents divorced affect how they view
relationships/marriage?

3.) Are they now on a mission to prove their parents wrong and show them that
marriages can work? Or are they stuck in the thought process that if their parents
marriage cant work then no marriage can work?
4.) Are children from broken homes more likely to grow up and also end up in a
broken home? (Ex: Divorced or never married w/ kids)
5.) Does their parents divorce affect their friendships?
6.) Do these kids wish their parents stayed together even if that meant constant
fighting or are they happier with the way things turned out?
7.) Why are the kids so affected by divorce?

1.) Do you think you struggle more with relationships (romantic

and/or friendships?) because of their divorce?
2.) How old were you when your parents got divorced? Do you
think you would have been more/less affected had it been
sooner/later?
3.) Do you think you are now more skeptical of marriage because
your parents relationship failed? Or do you think youre more on
a mission to prove them wrong and have a successful, healthy
relationship?
4.) Do you think statistically that children from broken homes
(divorced parents) are more likely to grow up and also get
divorced? Why or why not?
5.) What were the circumstances and do you think it has
anything to do with your current view on relationships?
6.) Do you think you were heavily affected by their divorce? Why
or why not?
7.) How does their divorce affect your identity (How you see
yourself)?
8.) Do you think being the youngest has anything to do with how you
were affected? How was your sibling affected? Was it different than

how you were affected or about the same?

9.) Any other comments?