Complete Bibliography & Further Reading
The science behind divorce adjustment and recovery
Navigate Divorce is built on decades of rigorous research in divorce psychology, family systems, and post-divorce adjustment. This page provides a comprehensive bibliography of the academic works, books, and research papers that inform the product's 8 life situations and 28 modules. Each source is available through Amazon with direct purchase links where applicable.
The foundational research upon which Navigate Divorce is built:
2016 (4th Edition) • Impact Publishers
The definitive guide to divorce recovery, used by divorce recovery programs worldwide. Fisher identifies 19 "building blocks" of adjustment—from denial and fear through openness, love, and freedom—providing a systematic framework for emotional healing after divorce.
1994 • HarperCollins
Groundbreaking 20-year longitudinal study following 98 divorced families. Ahrons introduced the concept of the "binuclear family" and demonstrated that divorce doesn't have to devastate families—roughly half of divorcing couples achieve a "good divorce" with healthy outcomes for all.
Essential texts from leading researchers in divorce adjustment and family psychology:
2002 • W.W. Norton
Based on Hetherington's landmark 30-year study of 1,400 families, this research challenges many assumptions about divorce. Findings show that 80% of children from divorced families function well, and most adults report being happier than in their marriages.
2000 • Hyperion
Long-term research examining how divorce affects children into adulthood. While more cautious than Hetherington's findings, this research emphasizes the importance of how divorce is handled rather than the divorce itself.
1992 (Revised) • Harper Perennial
Classic guide to the emotional roller coaster of divorce, identifying the "crazy time" period of emotional upheaval and providing strategies for navigating it. Highly practical wisdom based on extensive interviews with divorced individuals.
2009 • Da Capo Lifelong Books
Practical workbook-style guide combining psychology research with actionable exercises. Elliott's "Getting Past Your Past" methodology has helped thousands process divorce and relationship endings.
Research on processing emotions and finding freedom through forgiveness:
2018 • Guilford Press
Research-based guide to self-compassion, essential for divorce recovery. Studies show self-compassionate individuals recover faster from relationship endings and report better post-divorce adjustment.
2002 • HarperOne
Research from the Stanford Forgiveness Project demonstrating that forgiveness can be learned and produces measurable health benefits. Essential reading for the emotional healing phase of divorce.
2015 • Random House
Research on recovering from setbacks and disappointments. Brown's "rising strong" process provides a framework for getting back up after the fall of divorce with greater wisdom and wholeheartedness.
Research on protecting children and building successful co-parenting relationships:
2004 • HarperCollins
Follow-up study interviewing the now-adult children from Ahrons' original research, 20 years later. Reveals what matters most to children of divorce and how parents can make the best of a difficult situation.
2011 • St. Martin's Griffin
Practical strategies for co-parenting when your ex is difficult. Based on Communication Strategies for Family Therapists, offering scripts and techniques for reducing conflict.
Peer-reviewed research underlying Navigate Divorce's evidence-based approach:
Amato, P. R. (2000). Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(4), 1269-1287.
Comprehensive review of divorce research establishing the key factors that predict better or worse outcomes for adults and children following divorce.
Sbarra, D. A., & Emery, R. E. (2005). Journal of Family Psychology, 19(1), 161-169.
Longitudinal study tracking emotional recovery trajectories, finding that most individuals return to baseline wellbeing within 2-3 years of divorce.
Leary, M. R., Tate, E. B., Adams, C. E., Allen, A. B., & Hancock, J. (2007). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(5), 887-904.
Research demonstrating that self-compassion buffers against negative emotions following interpersonal events, supporting its importance in divorce recovery.
Worthington, E. L., Witvliet, C. V., Pietrini, P., & Miller, A. J. (2007). Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30(4), 291-302.
Research linking forgiveness to health outcomes, demonstrating the physiological benefits of releasing resentment—essential for post-divorce wellbeing.
Krumrei, E. J., Mahoney, A., & Pargament, K. I. (2011). Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 52(4), 233-255.
Study examining how individuals can experience personal growth following divorce, identifying factors that predict positive transformation.
Google Scholar is a free academic search engine that indexes peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, and conference proceedings from universities and research institutions worldwide.
Unlike regular Google, Scholar focuses exclusively on academic and scholarly sources—the original research that books like those above are based on.
Use Google Scholar when you want to:
Note: Some papers require institutional access or purchase, but many are freely available as PDFs.
Transform evidence-based divorce research into daily wisdom with Navigate Divorce's 28 modules and 2,800+ curated quotes.