Divorce Effects On Children

The Impact of Divorce on Children

Societal changes have led to an increased acceptance of divorce and consequently a higher number of divorces. It no longer carries the stigma of shame and failure it did fifty years ago and it is well known that it is commonplace among celebrities. But this increased tolerance of divorce among adults does not necessarily mean that the children of divorce are impacted any less. Research has shown that in general divorce impacts children negatively, although there are exceptions. How negative the effect is, however, depends upon many factors such as the amount of conflict between the parents, the age of the child at the time of divorce and the level of support surrounding the child. Obviously one of

Adjusting to one parent being absent, the going back and forth between homes, and sometimes a big change in economic status are all difficult events to adapt to. Children will have different responses to these changes depending upon their age at the time of divorce. Young children will feel that their world has turned upside down and leaves them feeling anxious and insecure. They may exhibit regressive behavior such as thumb-sucking or bed wetting or temper tantrums. Adolescent children may become more independent from the parents, separating themselves from the family and favoring friendships and outside world experiences. Some adolescents will deal more aggressively with the divorce and react with rebellion and defiance. These negative consequences can be lessened, however, if the parents try to provide as much stability, routine and consistency as possible regardless of the age of the

Having familiar friends and family still involved in their lives is important to all children and especially when they are going through stressful situations. The level of support they receive from family, friends, school, church or childcare provider can help give these children a sense of comfort and security. They need to have someone they believe is safe to confide in other than the parents. Parents who remove the children from those who were familiar to them prior to the divorce or try to limit their contact with family and friends will generally cause more stress for those children. And sometimes their own siblings can be a good source of support if those who may have adjusted better can help a sister or brother who has not. It is inevitable, though, that there will be some loss of contact with friends and family and this will have some negative impact on the children of