Divorce Research Needs More Objectivity

So, without any interviewing of the children, their teachers, relatives or other caretakers, Constance Ahrons concluded that “50% of divorces do not do long-term damage to children or adults” (“Can Divorces Be Civilized for the Sake of the Kids?” May 25).

She interviewed 98 divorced couples in the Midwest three times over five years. This is rigorous science? I was perplexed until I read that Ahrons “struggled to attain a civilized divorce herself. Although she and her ex-husband never became friendly after the divorce. . .”

I question whether her research technique didn’t break the cardinal rule of science: objectivity, in expunging guilt for her personal failure. Nonetheless, her conclusion of 50% long-term damage for children and adults is too high to be pushed aside to justify the lack of commitment values in our society today.

LAURA SCHLESSINGER

Los Angeles