Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Introduction on effect of divorce on children's behavior
Introduction on effect of divorce on children's behavior
How divorce affects children's behavior and their ability to learn
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
How does separation and divorce affect child development, behavior and academic performance? Does this separation affect behaviors and decisions they make as adults in a positive or negative way?
Amatullah Rauf
Professor O’Brien
PSYCH 215
March 6, 2015
Generally, psychological theories have suggested that a key factor in development among children depends on a stable environment. Many studies have documented both negative and positive effects on children who experience divorce or separation among parents at a young age, essentially causing instability in their environment. Child behavior is significantly affected by growing up in an environment where one parent is removed from the home by divorce or separation. I took particular
…show more content…
This study was conducted to research the factors affecting academic achievement in children associated with divorce or separation. The participants were 77 children ages 9-15 and both custodial and noncustodial parents from Ontario Canada. The study was conducted using a series of questionnaires to gather information about participants. Information such as age, date of birth and grade level was gathered as well as visitation agreements. The study shows how children behave in different circumstance related to divorce or separation. It highlights behaviors of different children in either single mother homes or single father homes and compares their behaviors with behaviors of children whose parents are not divorced and if they are, they still have an active role in their upbringing. It also examines children’s behavior and academic achievements based on their socioeconomic status. Results from the study indicate a stable environment as well as educated parents play a significant role in the positive behavior and academic performance of children. This is the case with parents that are not divorced or separated as well as parents who are, but are equally involved in their child’s life. On the contrary, where the parents are divorced and the child …show more content…
The article researches the effects on children who suffer from separation by being removed from the home as a result of abuse or neglect rather than divorce. The researchers state that there is very little empirical evidence showing how children react to this type of separation but instead, there is much research on the cause of the separation. For example, children are psychologically evaluated because they were sexually or physically abused, therefore the trauma and mental comprehension is measured more so than their feeling of loss or separation anxiety by being removing them from what they have always known. Because of the circumstances that result in the removal of children, often the cause and its effects on them are studied rather than what they experienced and their emotional impact of being
These children are also more susceptible to being involved in the criminal justice system. This part of the article “WHERE IS YOU MOTHER, A woman’s fight to keep her child”, by Rachel Aviv is very important because it’s one of the main ideas. The article is focused on the effects a child intakes after being removed from their family. As well as historical and trends contributing to such acts. The author examined the different elements linked the removal of a child from their home, and how and why they are removed.
A child needs both of their parents’ love and affection while growing up. A child that grows up with both has a higher chance of being a more stable person. However, not all children have this luxury; some children are born into dysfunctional families that consist of only one parent like the children in the Wingfield family. “A study of 1,977 children age 3 and older living with a residential father or father figure found that children living with married biological parents had significantly fewer externalizing behavioral problems than children living with at least one non-biological parent” (Consequences of Fatherlessness). The absent parent in the Wingfield family affected everyone in the family, not only the children. The absent father,
A significant portion of children in the United States are impacted by divorce. Empirical investigations verify that children of divorce are at a heightened risk for the development of psychological, social, behavioral and academic issues (Amato, 2000; Amato, 2001). Amato and Keith (1991) studied the welfare of children of divorce compared with that of children whose parents are still married to each other. Children from divorced families scored considerably lower on a range of outcomes and it was shown that these problems can persist into adulthood. Given the high rate of divorce and the negative effects it has on our youth, the implementation of effective prevention programs has great significance (Wolchik, West, Sandler, Tein, Coatsworth, & Lengua, 2000).
Divorce has stressors for both the parents and the children in the marriage. This can be seen in a study conducted by Jennifer M. Weaver and Thomas J. Schofield. For this study intact and divorced families were observed. Three main things were observed when doing the study, the income of the family before the divorce, children’s IQ as well as the mother’s predivorce sensitivity (Weaver & Schofield, 2014). The results confirmed the hypothesis that “children from divorced families had significantly more behavior problem than peers from intact families” (Weaver & Schofield, 2014, p.45). As it is seen, the stressors that come along with a divorce is a child’s behavioral problems and the economic well-being of the family. Divorce brings the stressor of economic well-being, for a single mother because if before the divorce, they were of low income, now they may struggle a bit
They have to get used to a further living area, feelings and circumstances. Their response to divorce can vary and depends on age, gender, and personal characteristics. This essay will show the effects of divorce on children under various aspects such as educational, psychological and social impact. In addition, it will contain data about the divorce rate in the US and present disparate reactions of children. It will also include adequate recommendations for parents as to how to act on children after divorce, in order to minimize the adverse effect on children.
Divorce is a heavy concept that has many implications for those involved. The situation becomes even more consequential when children are considered. As divorce has become more commonplace in society, millions of children are affected by the separation of the nuclear family. How far-reaching are these effects? And is there a time when divorce is beneficial to the lives of the children? This paper will examine some of the major research and several different perspectives regarding the outcomes of divorce for the children involved, and whether it can actually be in the best interest of the kids.
The slightest dysfunction in a family structure can be detrimental to a child’s development. Children often act out and take part in delinquent activities. In order to increase a child’s chance to succeed in life, they must be raised in a stable environment involving two parents. This helps them to feel included in the family and will help build their confidence and independence later in life.
Early Childhood Development and Impact of Parent/Child Separation on Development. Enrique Montino Pineda was abandoned by both parents at the age of 7. Without present parental figures, Enrique couldn’t develop adequate emotional regulation, social awareness, or self-esteem. He was a drug addict by the age of 15. Long-term parent/child separation can have many negative neurological effects on a child, and heavily and negatively impacts the way children learn to regulate emotions and perceive themselves.
Most people, when thinking about divorce, worry about the impact that it has on the children that are involved. Even though children are most likely better off if totally incompatible parents separate instead of staying together, divorce is about loss and change, and it is still hard for children. Everyone knows that divorce has its effects on children. There are three different sources that try to explain these effects. Graham Blaine Jr. states that divorce is a threat to all children, whereas Rhona Mahony states that divorce is not always the cause of behavioral or academic problems in children coming from divorced families. Yvette Walczak and Sheila Burns state that the extent of the damage can be determined by the parents and their methods of explanation to the children.
DeBord, K. (1997). Focus on kids: The effects of divorce on children. National Network for Child Care. Retrieved November 3, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.nncc.org/Child.Dev/effectsdivorce.html
Zill, N., Morrison, D. R., & Coiro, M. J. (1993). Long term effects of parental divorce on parent-child relationship, adjustment, and achievement in young adulthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 7, 91-103.
Considering that over 45 percent of marriages today end in divorce, it is crucial to understand recent research regarding the positive and negative effects of divorce on children’s mental health. Studies have shown that although children of broken homes generally have more adjustment difficulties than children of intact families, the distinction between these two groups appears to be much less significant than previously assumed (1). In the case of parental separation, studies suggest that children undergo a decline in the standard of living, exhibit poorer academic performance, engage in increased alcohol/ substance abuse, as well as experience diminishing rates of employment. However, underlying factors must be taken into consideration when assessing the long-term consequence of divorce on children, which happens to be resiliency rather than dysfunction (1). These key contextual factors that influence post-divorce adjustment include parenting styles, custody arrangements, age of the child, financial stability, and most importantly, the nature and magnitude of parental conflict. Persistent, unsettled conflict or violence is linked to greater emotional anxiety and psychological maladjustment in children, whereas negative symptoms like fear and insecurity are reduced when parents resolve their conflicts through compromise and negotiation. Although divorce unveils many risk factors involving a child’s health, it may be more beneficial rather than detrimental to children living in highly discorded families, in which children are able to acquire externalizing and internalizing behaviors (1). The development of coping skills and living in a supportive and empathetic environment are two crucial components for children to manage their ne...
As children, we depend greatly on our parents to satisfy our basic needs, for guidance, nurturance and for help in shaping our emotions, behaviors and relationships. For children, the family is a highly valued context for understanding and interpreting their development as individuals. As Bjorklund and Pelligrini (2001) have asserted, we are a “slow-developing, big-brained species”, the relatively large size of our brains demands a prolonged period of immaturity, therefore requiring a great deal of support and nurturance from parents (DeLoache, J., Eisenberg, N., Siegler, R. 2011). However, an adaptive consequence to this extended immaturity is our high level of neural plasticity and our ability to learn from experience. Growing up in a stable environment can undoubtedly reap successful development for children on many levels, just as living in an unstable environment will certainly allow for undesirable consequences. Despite great individual differences, research from psychologists such as Erik Erikson and Sigmund Freud, among others allows us to organize and understand the affects of long lasting parental conflict on child development and family. Research has allowed a strong shot at understanding child development, allowing parental conflict to be observed and connected with the development of children across many aspects. It is largely the differences between socioeconomic status, culture, race, gender and level of conflict, support and resiliency, which directly affect children and other relatives over time.
Over 60 percent of couples seeking a divorce have children still living at home. ( 6) What some parents don’t realize when they file for a divorce is the great impact that it will have on their kids. Divorce affects children in many ways. It affects kids emotionally and causes them to experience feelings such as fear, loss, anger and confusion. Divorce also hurts a child’s academic achievement. Children whose parents divorce generally have poorer scores on tests and a higher dropout rate. (3)
Later resulting in the children or adolescents to live in single-parent families. Divorce affects these children in a great matter. A child raised by both parents is less likely to experience social problems. For example, less likely to drop out, to become a teen parent, become a delinquent, etc. And a children that has seen his parents’ divorce and now lives either with a single parents is more likely to become a delinquent, use drugs, become a teen parent, experience domestic violence, also later divorce, depression, experience emotional and behavioral problems (Center for Marriage and Families,