Divorce: Long-Term Implications for Children - Research Paper Example

? Effects of divorce Divorce is the legal termination of a certain marriage union. Each country has different laws with regard to divorces but court processes are always involved in many countries or state before any divorce process is complete. Different opinions vary as far as divorce is concerned. There is a group of people or professional who may grant divorce while others may be a 100% against the act. The work considers both the opposing and proposing views as far as divorce is concerned. Some considerations must be put in place before a certain marriage is legally ended (Ahrons, 2007). Such considerations are children support as well as custody, bread winners, old adults in the family, family resources among other issues, family debt. The thesis statement is: occurrences as well as effects of divorce can be minimized. The work describes several activities meant to ease divorce victims, more so children and old adults who may depend on other family members for financial and emotional supports among other needs. The work describes the role of specialists like psychologists among other professionals. The work finally describes activities that could help reduce divorce cases and mitigate its effects. There is a high rate of divorce cases in the current generation; statistically about 40% of US populations are divorced. These high rates are triggered by current economic and social set up in the community. We live in an era where most spouses spent more time in their job places than they spend with their married partners. Research indicates that there are several reasons or causes of divorce. This may vary depending on the social, cultural, religious and economic status of a certain country. However, the common reasons why legally married couples opt to legally end their marriage relationship include; Getting married for indefinite reasons. One may be attracted to his or her spouse just because of a certain commodity or personality like money, authority or even some favors. Once he or she has attained the need, the marriage is brought to an end. Lack personal identity has seen many couples separate their ways. One spouse may pretend in a certain marriage for quite a long time, but the moment his or real identity is revealed such marriages is ended. Other marriage arguments are triggered the moment one or both spouse forget their roles in the family. Some agencies contradict the issue of increased divorce rates, according to their findings; divorce is on decrease trend due to increase in registered bachelors and spinsters. Divorce comes with several negative effects more so to children and old adults in the society. Statistics indicates that about a million American children undergo financial and emotional frustrations due to divorce. Children whose parents are divorced are likely to be abused which interferes with their normal behaviors, health and emotions. Researches indicate that such children are likely to commit suicides or abuse their children in the future due to the frustrations they are subjected to. Majority of the children may abuse drugs at tender age for an attempt to kill the pains and frustrations they are subjected to (Greef, 2004). Their academic performances are likely to deteriorate due to reduced or lack of concentrations in their academics. Several children department reports indicate that majority of college or university drop outs are from divorced families. Financial degradation is an effect that not only affects the children but even the adults. In families where one spouse is the family bread winner, the other spouse may be financially impaired once such divorce is legalized. Children may be forced to drop out of school due to lack of financial support. Such children get frustrated and several studies reveal that they are likely to be involved in criminal acts like robbery and rape among other activities. Old adults on the other hand suffer a great deal from divorce cases. They undergo financial, emotional as well social setbacks from divorce. Despite the disadvantages of divorce, some good effects are associated with the act, for instance, some parents more so women could be saved from marital abuses once their divorce wishes is granted. The effects of divorce are traumatizing and the government and society in general should engage some efforts to limit divorce. This is due to the fact that the government parts with substantial amounts to support single parents, children and old adults who are victims of divorce. Several social and cultural agencies indicate that the figure amounts to about 150 billion USD per annum. On the other hand, the same agencies reveal that the government can spend about 150 million USD to restore broken marriages. A However, the main challenge is that marriage is a natural issue that no amounts of money can control. Once a certain spouse is fed up, he or she will always seek divorce no matter how many counseling sessions he/she attends. Marriage is a special matter that can be solved by the couples in a certain marriage. Some plans have been stipulated to reduce future divorce cases; the federal government should establish and fund a national project to reduce divorce cases of spouses by children by more than one third in the next ten years. The same agencies should come up with pro marriage support programs that would divert reasonable amounts of social programs funds to cater for trainings associated with appropriate marriage skills to reduce chances of future divorce. Excess of welfare funds should be directed towards strengthening marriage programs. The federal state should revive state system that was responsible for gathering data associated with divorce. The system collapsed a decade ago, and since then, it has been difficult to monitor several effects of divorce. Public campaigns should be strategized to sensitize the state or nation on the effects of divorce. The government can also motivate married couple to shun divorce by providing some substantial incentives or money to parents who have maintained their marriages until their children attain the age of 18 years (Tanner, 2002). Psychologists among other professionals play very vital roles in reducing the chances as well as effects of divorce. A child may be a frequent patient of a certain doctor for a reasonable period of time. During which they develop a special doctor relationship and understandings. Later, the parents of the child may divorce compelling him /her to seek another parenthood care. More often the child would prefer the doctor because the good relationship they developed while the child’s parents were still in marriage. Psychologists can the mediation role between married partners having quarrels. They can assist the couples lay down their differences and save their marriage. Psychologists can advise married couples on the best time to have kids, to limit children’s frustration upon divorce. Children may develop frustrations and further complications when their parents separate, during such incidences, the doctor may be compelled to offer counseling among other social and emotional supports. The same doctor can render medical treatment to such children. The psychologists play a great role in determining the parent to be granted children custody once they divorce. They go through the parents legal and other records to ascertain the suitability of such parents to offer healthy and effective children custody. The psychologists, further monitor whether the children are cared for as stipulated when a certain parent was being mandated to care for such children. They are mandated to detect any child abuse resulting from divorce cases, then report to the local homeland security or department. Psychologists can also present their clients in the courtroom, should it be required by the attorney. S some divorce cases may negatively affect some old adults family members. Researches indicate that divorce cases increase the vulnerability of the old adults in terms of health, disaster preparedness among other issues. The psychologists can take the responsibility of counseling, offering medical care, offering training sessions to the old adults who may be divorce victims (Barth, 2004). However, there are some factors to be considered upon hiring a certain psychologist. The factors include their experiences, work records, charges, and availabity among other factors. Psychologists can determine some situations that may compel the divorced patents to stay together despite the incidence. Attorney may legally object the divorce of couples having young children (Gold-Bikin, 2011). Such children require both parent support as indicated in the Children’s’ Act. The same psychologists who are known to play pleasant roles in divorce process could turn to be disadvantageous more when they are to represent their clients before the court. Psychologists may accept money or any other favor from one of the spouses to give wrong information that may jeopardize the attorney’s verdict as far as the divorce case is concerned. To summarize, divorce is a condition that subjects children to jeopardized conditions that interfere with their wellbeing in several ways. The cases are on high increase trend that if not well cared of; nobody would wish to marry in the near future. The government and other non-governmental agencies should establish some activities to help reduce divorce cases. Children are the main innocent victims of divorce due to the frustrations they are subjected to. Departments of children through the psychologists play very vital roles in reducing the children frustrations once their parents are granted divorce. The government should realize that divorce is a very critical issue that would see the economy of a certain nation or state scramble into dust. Federal agencies should implement all the plans that were established to reduce incidences and effects of divorce cases. References Ahrons, C.R. (2007). Family Ties After Divorce: Long-Term Implications for children. Family process,46(1) 53-65 Barth, J. C. (2004) grandparents Dealing with the Divorce of Their Child: Tips for Grandparents and Therapists. Contemporary Family Therapy: An international journal,26(1), 41-44 Gold-Bikin, L. Z. (2011). Why People Live Together After Divorce. American Journal Of Family Law, 25(2), 1-3. Greef, A. P.,& Merwe, V.(2004). Variables associated with resilience in divorced families. (2004). Journal of Youth Ministry, 3(1), 101-104 Tanner, J. (2002). Parental Separation and Divorce: Can we an ounce of prevention? Pediatrics, 110(5), 1007. Read More