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The Psychological Effect of divorce towards the children's behavior - (thesis)
The Psychological Effect of divorce towards the children's behavior - (thesis)
How divorce affects children's behavior and their ability to learn
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Children of recently divorced parents tend to experience almost immediate effects from the separation and divorce. Many factors, including age, contribute to how a divorce can influence a child’s life. “Impact on children varies according to the age of the child” (Taylor and Andrews, 2009). The younger the child is when the divorce occurs appears to have less emotional and psychologically developmental impact than when the divorce occurs for older children.
As the child attempts to adjust to the new norm, nearly all children of divorce begin to display noticeable short-term behaviors. Some of the more notable ones are, “Feelings of shame about being different from peers; confusion as to what to tell their friends and teachers; anger at the inconvenience and disruption of moving between two homes, and efforts to maintain loyalty to one parent with the potential for angry rejection” (Jordan, 2016). While these are only a few of the notable changes, many children of divorce will carry these behavior patterns into later life. The repercussions of divorce carry with it long-term effects as the child mature into adulthood.
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Anxiety and mistrust brought about by their parents’ divorce often causes early childhood depression. “Children of depressed parents are at higher risk for depression themselves” and “are at high-risk for other behavior maladies” (Raymond and Andrews, 2009). Adding to the probability of depression, children will experience higher levels of anxiety and worry stemming from their parents’ divorce. A depressed child will exhibit poor academic performance and is more apt to have lowered immunity
Arjun feels ignored because of his mother’s attitude, “When Arjun left the room, his mother’s footsteps did not follow him, as they so often had in old house. Once as he loudly dragged his feet he heard the man saying, let him be, he is growing up, you have to give him space” (Kapur 148). The worse happened in the form of his admission in a boarding school, which left Raman at the back foot. It is the tragic plight of children that in spite of having parents they had to go to boarding school. Dr. Carl Pickhardt narrates the effects of divorce on children’s psyche in his article, The Impact of Divorce on Young Children and Adolescents:
In America, about one in every two marriages will end in divorce. Around 60% of those divorcing couples have children. (Cherlin, 2012). Half of the marriages in America end in divorce, and more than half of those couples have children, which means that about every other divorce that is filed in America, a child is impacted. Between 850,000 and 950,000 divorces occur each year. (National Center for Health Statistics, CDC., 2014). Given that roughly 60% of those divorcing couples have at least one child, at least 510,000 children are affected a year. Estimates have been done to suggest that in the near future, 70% of divorces could involve children under the age of eighteen. (Block, Block, and Gjerde, 1986). Because of the large number of children in America having broken families, it is important to understand the effects of divorce on children’s' day to day lives so that they may be provided for in a proper and beneficial way.
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.
Children of divorced parents may have a lower sense of psychological well-being than children who grew up with intact families the range of feelings that a child may encounter include: disbelief and denial, sadness, loss, loneliness, depression, anger, anxiety, fear, relief, and hope. Some children may experience long-lasting emotional effects into their adulthood that damage their ability to preserve relationships. The result of parental divorce shapes children emotionally and may impact self-esteem, future relationships, dating and marriage (Armando Loomis and Booth 895+)..
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.
Many couples face that difficult decision about whether divorce would be the answer to their problems. Divorce is at a very high rate today and many more people are using this method to walk away from a marriage. When divorce is the only option then its repercussion can have a devastating effect not only on the parents but on the children. It is the children that must suffer because of the parent’s mistakes. Divorce is a long arduous process that in time can tear apart a family. There are many factors of divorce that can affect the children. Because of the divorce on the parents it can change the whole family structure. There can be a loss of income, lack of educational needs, mental illness, poverty, homelessness, and depression. These can all effect the children by causing them to be very angry, lash out at others, academic and cognitive decline, criminal offenses, and engage in risky behavior. These are just a few of the topics that will be covered within this paper.
Divorce is a very common word in today's society. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, "divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage or a complete or radical severance of closely connected things"(Pickett, 2000). This dissolution of marriage has increased very rapidly in the past fifty years. In 1950 the ratio of divorce to marriage was one in every four; in 1977 that statistic became one in two. Currently one in every two first marriages results in divorce. In second marriages that figure is considerably higher, with a 67% average (National Vital Statistics Report, 2001). One critical aspect of divorce is often not taken into consideration: How it affects children. Every year 1.1 million children are affected by divorce (Benjamin, 2000). Children from divorce or separation often exhibit behavioral and long-term adjustment problems (Kelly, 2000). Throughout this paper I will discuss divorces effects on children at different age levels, how they react, and what can be done to help them.
Divorce is a process that many people in America go through. The divorce rate continues to escalate over the years. Divorce is a serious problem, it is a gradual process that ultimately results in families breaking up. There are various factors in which a marriage can fail and end up in divorce. Some skip the step of trying to reconcile things and make it work. In some cases it is easy for a divorce to take place. For instance, in cases where both parties are in agreement and have no children it is easier to handle a divorce. But in the cases where children are present, what happens to the kids? Both parents are at each others throats or one is devastated from the rejection, what role does the child play? It is a hard thing to cope with as an adult imagine as a little one or even a teenager, it affects them in more ways than anyone can imagine. It can affect them both physically and emotionally. The effects of divorce are immense, it permanently weakens the bond or relationship between a child and his parents. Can lead to them reaching out or looking to others for attention, causing poor attitudes, low self esteem, dropping grades, loss of virginity, use of drugs and or weapons, or in some cases mutilation of the body. There are various effects that children have to deal with that maybe extremely hard to cope with. One parent may say one thing yet the other disagrees and makes it impossible for the child to have a stable relationship with both of them. Children need both biological parents at their side to be guardians and counselors in their lives, to be examples of what they need to do to become outstanding citizens in our community.
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...
Robbers, S. C., C., Bartels, M., van Beijsterveldt, C. E., M, Toos, . . . Boomsma, D. I. (2011). Pre-divorce problems in 3-year-olds: A prospective study in boys and girls. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 46(4), 311-9. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0199-x
Children are psychologically and socially affected by divorce and may need counseling either at the time of their parent’s divorce or in the future. They may react instantly by getting lower grades or becoming depressed or anxious. Younger children may begin to cling to the parent that remains in the home with them for they fear that both parents will eventually leave them. Older children may begin to rebel or become extremely disobedient and disrespectful. You may see unpleasant attitudes develop and they can become unsocial and no longer desire to be around their friends. Most children feel guilty for their parent’s ...
Divorce increases the risk of that child will suffer from Psychological and behavioral problems. Many troubled children are more than likely to develop problems with anger, disobedience, and rule violations. Also schools achievements can suffer dramatically. Children may come depressed, anxious, or become over
Divorce is more than just a legal dissolution of a married couple. It is a terminating process that breaks down a family that can leaves devastating consequences with the family. Society’s view on marriage has drastically changed from how it was viewed fifty years ago. Now of days people have easier access to divorce so instead of trying to work out conflicts they find it easier to simply sign some papers and rid themselves of their spouse. With divorce rates as high as they are today it seems as if people are not taking it considerations the potential devastating effects divorce may have on a child. Currently half of all divorces involve minor children (Portinoy, 2008), that is a lot of children
In the world we live in today, divorce has unfortunately become a normal thing in our lives. Many married couples are getting divorced for many reasons; problems in the marriage, either a spouse having an affair, a loss of feelings, and many other types of complications. Many divorces involve children who are young and due to their age do not understand what is really going on. We all know someone who has dealt with divorce. Children are the ones who are typically affected the most by the divorce and they will have to learn to cope with their parent’s divorce at such a young age, affecting them in positive or negative ways.