Causal explanations and emotional health of women during divorce.

This study investigated (a) relationships between women's causal explanations for divorce and their present emotional health, and (b) the clinical usefulness of the Personal Stress Inventory (Ireton, 1980) as a stress assessment tool. The convenience sample consisted of 36 women ending a first marriage. Subjects were interviewed using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (Fitts, 1965), the Personal Stress Inventory, and a causal explanations questionnaire. Results indicated that causal explanations did predict self-esteem and emotional distress under conditions suggested by the reformulated learned helplessness model. The Personal Stress Inventory includes an emotional distress subscale that predicted self-esteem, self-perceptions of coping ability, and overall concerns about wellness/energy.