1153 Journal of Applied Social Psychology , 2003, 33, 6, pp. 1153-1178. Copyright 2003 by V. H. Winston & Son, Inc. All rights reserved. The Effect of Later Life Parental Divorce on Adult-Child/Older-Parent Solidarity: A Test of the Buffering Hypothesis 1 PAUL A. NAKONEZNY 2 JOSEPH LEE RODGERS Department of Health Promotion Department of Psychology University of North Texas University of Oklahoma–Norman JON F. NUSSBAUM Department of Communication Pennsylvania State University The present study examined the effect of later life parental divorce on solidarity in the relationship between the adult child and older parent. This examination was achieved by testing the buffering hypothesis. A cross-sectional quasiexperimental pre–post treatment design was used (Cook & Campbell, 1979), with retrospective pretests and data from 100 adult-child/older-parent dyads. The ANOVA results show that the mother/adult-child rela- tionship with a higher degree of predivorce solidarity responded to later life parental divorce with less disruption of affectional solidarity and associational solidarity than those with a lower degree of predivorce solidarity. Thus, the current research provides modest evidence (for the mother/adult-child relationship) to support the buffering hypothesis. We found no evidence of a buffering effect for the father–child relationship. The divorce process, whether it occurs early or late in marriage, is one of the most stressful life events (e.g., Bloom, Asher, & White, 1978; Miller & Rahe, 1997), and it can jeopardize parent–child relationships. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have shown that parental divorce is linked to lower levels of solidarity in the parent–child relationship, with a more negative effect on the father–child relationship than on the mother–child relationship (e.g., Amato & Booth, 1991, 1996; Aquilino, 1994; Campbell, 1995; Cooney, 1994; Cooney & Uhlenberg, 1990; Marks, 1995; Pett, Lang, & Gander, 1992; Rossi & Rossi, 1990; Swartzman-Schatman & Schinke, 1993; Weingarten, 1988, 1989). 1 This article is based on the first author’s dissertation research completed at the University of Oklahoma–Norman. The authors thank William R. Lovallo for his comments on an earlier draft of this article. The first author is indebted to Anny Su for her encouragement and unconditional support during this project. 2 Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Paul A. Nakonezny, Department of Health Promotion, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 311337, Denton, TX 76203-1337. E-mail: nakonezny@coe.unt.edu