Divorce Scientists & Research Institutes


An incomplete list scientists who have made major contributions to the study of divorce, the effects of divorce on children, stepfamilies, custody, mediation and more.  Also, see list below of research centers that focus on marriage and divorce issues.

  • Tamara  D.  Afifi– University of Iowa
  • Constance Ahrons – University of Southern California (emeritus)
  • Paul R. Amato –– Pennsylvania State University
  • Alan Booth–– Pennsylvania State University
  • Sanford L Braver–– Arizona State University (emeritus)
  • Larry L. Bumpass—-– University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Andrew J. Cherlin— Johns Hopkins University
  • Marilyn Coleman– University of Missouri-Columbia (emeritus)
  • William Doherty— University of Minnesota
  • David H. Demo– University of North Carolina-Greensboro
  • Robert E. Emery– University of Virginia
  • Mark A. Fine– University of North Carolina-Greensboro
  • Larry Ganong– University of Missouri-Columbia
  • John Gottman– University of Washington (emeritus)
  • E. Mavis Hetherington– University of Virginia (emeritus)
  • Janet R. Johnston– San Jose State University (emeritus)
  • Joan B. Kelly–Northern California Mediation Center
  • Marsha Kline Pruett– Smith College
  • David A. Sbarra— University of Arizona
  • Pamela Smock– University of Michigan
  • Yongmin Sun– Ohio State University, Mansfield
  • J. D. Teachman– Western Washington University
  • Judith. S. Wallerstein– Deceased
  • Sharlene Wolchik– Arizona State University

Research Institutes — Marriage, Divorce, Families

Australian Institute of Family Studies

Studies Australian families, provides reports on trends in demographic data regarding divorce and marriage.  Publishes research summaries and policy briefs, see Family Matters. 

National Institute of Health and Social Welfare, Finland

This agency is a source for information on statistics about children and families in Finland. They published a report in Journal of Family Psychology (2011) about the long-term effects of divorce on intimacy in young adulthood.

Vanier Institute for the Family— Canada

One thought on “Divorce Scientists & Research Institutes

  1. You need to make a conscious decioisn as to how you deal with the pain of your divorce. You need to realize that how you react to what is happening in your life will have an effect on the people around you including and especially your children.