Negative Impacts of Separation or Divorce on Children and Adolescents - Literature review Example

Negative impacts of separation or divorce on children and adolescents Number Negative impacts of separation or divorce on children and adolescents Many years of studies into the negative consequences of divorce and separation on young children and adolescents have generated vital knowledge, but also triggered some confusion on the precise outcomes on children development due to mixed results. This paper will review more than 25 studies conducted in the recent past to establish how children and adolescents are negatively affected by broken families with the focus being on how best their access to basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and education which all have a direct impact on their emotional needs are impacted. The paper will proceed to examine the likely policy implications on the issues and also particular areas where more research is necessary to expound on the issue. By virtue of the wide-ranging comparative review that this paper seeks to take, the paper intends to elaborate the exact aspects of parental support which have a bearing on the psychological development and welfare of children and adolescents and how parental separation or divorce can impact them by observing the synthesis plan of identification, screening, determining eligibility and inclusion of the relevant sources as captured in the appendices. Overview of the findings In most cases, parental separation is generally considered as the beginning of divorce and it extends long after the process. Owing to the practical parental abdication of several responsibilities, the children need psychological support and interventions in order to limit the potential damaging impacts of the process on children and adolescents (Hetherington, & Arasteh, 2014). However, despite the fact that short-term distress immediately after separation is relatively prevalent, this usually reduces in intensity with time and permanent adverse impacts typically affect only a small number of children going through the outcomes of parental separation and divorce. Regardless, children who are affected are normally hit hard emotionally, in what calls for adequate support and interventions to rescue them from the risks of stunted development in the form of poor performance in school or anti-social behaviour. According to Martin and Fabes (2008) children and adolescents whose parents have separated are at a high risk of suffering from emotional distress due to: poor economic status throughout their life; anti-social behaviours which only send them away from their peers, and in adverse scenario in jail; poor performance in academics, considering that the distress could hamper regular attendance of or concentration in school; poor access to health care services; leaving home while still too young to find viable economic opportunities and joining the population of homeless populations; experimenting with sex at a younger age and becoming pregnant or contracting sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and; undergoing depressive episodes and the negative impacts of substance use from the childhood ages throughout adulthood (Humphrey, Kalambouka, Wigelsworth, Lendrum, Deighton, & Wolpert, 2011). As Hetherington and Arasteh (2014) noted, these negative developmental outcomes of separation or divorce on the focus group are usually due to a number of factors which only the parents or third parties playing similar roles can resolve or lessen their seriousness. These include: lack of finances to facilitate their education and achievement, and hostilities between the parents before, in the course of or after divorce or separation can contribute significantly in aggravating behavioural problems. The incapacity of many parents to recover from the anxieties and emotional impacts of separation may trigger the same negative results on the children, thus handicapping their ability to cope (Baeza-Velasco, Michelon, Rattaz, Pernon, & Baghdadli, 2013). Still, multiple alterations in the new family arrangement where children shuttle between the parental residences situated in different places or towns has the potential to create poor academic outcomes due to emotional disturbances resulting from short, casual interactions with each of the parents (Martin, Volkmar, & Lewis, 2007). Causes and statistics Parental divorce and separation is directly associated with changing gender roles and the stresses of globalization (Martin, Volkmar, & Lewis, 2007). For instance, women are increasingly gaining from equal occupational opportunities with men and the very tight work schedules have pushed the former away from their traditional underdog status in domestic settings. As a consequence, conflicts over who should take care of the children and the domestic chores coupled by the ability of women to afford their upkeep have triggered divorce and separation. Current trends show that more 30% of new marriage relationships in England and Wales will dissolve within two decades, 40% of which will ultimately be divorce cases. These developments will leave 25% of children facing negative developmental experiences of parental divorce by time they reach 16 years old (Lucas, Nicholson, & Erbas, 2013). England and Wales are among top regions in the whole of continental Europe where the highest number of children face negative developmental impacts of divorce and separation. However, the rates in the United States are far higher than English (Resurrección, Salguero, & Ruiz-Aranda, 2014). Negative developmental problems Children undergo negative experiences of divorce and separation, challenges which find many of them unknown unawares. Interviews with minors and adolescents shortly before, during or after separation indicate that most of them desire their families had stuck together. Most of them show optimism that their divorced or separated parents would be together again. Martin and Fabes (2008) noted that children experiencing the outcomes of divorce and separation undergo unhappiness, poor self-esteem, antisocial behaviour, and limited interactions with peers and or members of their extended family. However, constant communication and interactions between younger souls and both parents is usually attributed to a greater level of healing and adapting behaviour among the affected parties. Regardless, in many cases, dissolutions of marriages are very acrimonious usually prevent such decorum. Short-term consequences Humphrey et al (2011) said, clear clarifications of the turn of events and the reasons can help with coping, especially among more mature children and adolescents because they arguably have better understanding. For younger children, reassurance by both parents that the separation or divorce is just a mere physical separation and that everything will remain intact would dissipate feelings of abandonment, which may hinder their activities (Martin, & Fabes, 2008). However, the fact that a significant number of divorce or separation cases are accompanied by self-denial, blame-game and even conflict over family resources or custody of children, the negative impacts of improper explanations usually take the toll on the children. In most cases, parents cast doubt on the ability of the other to take care of the children in the presence of the children, in what leaves the children psychologically battered and very much vulnerable to stunted development if proper measures are not taken to build their emotional health. As a consequence, immediate distress among children which usually accompanies parental divorce and separation will persist with time and thus hinder chances of healing or normal patterns of growth and development. As Martin, Volkmar and Lewis (2007) said, this is especially true for many negative outcomes are generally twice as common among child victims of divorce or separation as their counterparts from functional families. Parental control arising from the all-encompassing support given by two parents has a direct impact on limiting psychological development problems which children and adolescents may suffer due to inadequate supply of the basic needs. As such, Vreeman and Carroll (2007) said such deficiencies would include lack of emotional support for children to perform well in school, improper nutrition or exercise for physical health, improper proper housing and lack of constant guidance on how to control emotions in their social interactions. Such supports are important to the population segment, because they cannot withstand a stressful life and seek their own upkeep, especially when parents are still battling for control of the family wealth or custody rights in court. Long-term consequences As Lucas, Nicholson and Erbas (2013) said, the negative impacts of divorce or separation upon children can be as detrimental as growing up in foster-families with poorer incomes; lack of shelter; truancy, deviance and having a stint in jail; achieving poorer outcomes in socio-economic quarters through adulthood as compared to their counterparts from functional families; and being in greater danger of inappropriate behaviour problems including general withdrawal from one’s peers throughout adulthood. Grant and Yeatman (2014) noted that poor educational achievement will directly result in lower chances of securing better grades in the final exams, which then reduces the chances of joining the university or colleges and eventual securing of a decent employment. The lack of parental control which would otherwise result in greater level of school attendance is likely to push the affected children and adolescents into a life of deviance. Sember (2009) said, such life which generally involves experimenting with criminal behaviour usually results in a significant number of the cases ending up in health facilities following substance-induced accidents and or complications. Worse or unlucky cases may end up in jail. Still, David, McLeod, Fergusson and John (2014) noted that some cases are more likely to drop out of school and become teenage parents. For those who are lucky to form families of their own, remaining faithful in marriage will be a challenging task. And because life would also be hard considering the lack of adequate resources, most cases will suffer exhibit signs of depression. At this point, the misconceptions about substance relievers of stress would push them into smoking, alcoholism and substances abuse during adolescence stage and in adulthood (Coleman, & Glenn, 2010). Prolonged use of the drugs would result in addiction, and thus aggravate risk of health problems in the victims including those who may want to quit. Gender differences Apart from the age factor, David, McLeod, Fergusson and John (2014) noted that gender is also a determining factor. In the immediate aftermath of family dissolution or separation, girls are normally more resilient than boys. Girls appear to have the emotional wherewithal to control the negative impacts of separation such as emotional distress and coping problems at least immediately (OGorman, 2011). The group will continue their resilience for about five years, whilst their male counterparts normally witness more challenges, especially in educational and social quarters. However, in the longer term, for example, after a decade of separation of separation or divorce, the trend changes with boys showing a lower level of psychological susceptibility (Kourlis, Taylor, Schepard, & Pruett, 2013). It appears that girls’ immediate resilient reaction may be only temporary and that, in the long-term, the breakup of the emotional connection with their parents following a divorce substantially affects their mood and social life. Despite these differences, all children stand to lose out development-wise whenever their parents divorce or separate. They forfeit regular interactions with both of them, especially when they need them and miss balanced guidance from both parents, in what could impact devastatingly on their physical and emotional development. Reed (2013) noted that when children feel secure at the hands of both parents, they develop because they are guaranteed adequate and regular meals and time for play, but for lone parents, maintaining a basic life for children, especially where there is not adequate support coming from the other partner is just enough preoccupation such that finding extra time to monitor the child will be just too much. As a consequence, the otherwise enabling environment that can trigger child exploration of positive behaviour, physical development through exercise, acquisition of new knowledge, and achieving general growth will be just too much to guarantee (Stadelmann, Perren, Groeben, & Von, 2010). Separation and divorce creates a feeling of insecurity in children and adolescents, which then threatens their development and positive adventures into their environment. For victims of divorce and separation, the otherwise precious time which would be spent on development is diverted to seeking reassurance from the estranged parents and members of the foster care. The end result is normally stunted learning, lack of positive experimenting, and overall slow growth in the cases. Foster and single-parent families Foster families and lone-parent arrangements usually step-in to ensure seamless development of the children and adolescents affected by divorce or separation. However, Brown, Tyson and Arias (2014) argued that the victims will not show signs of sufficient content as their counterparts in intact families and in a number of cases, their performance may even fall below those from single-parent households due to better understanding between the parent and the children. Reed (2013) and Lee (2001) added that the risks of negative outcomes for children in step-families are usually greater than lone-parent arrangements because natural parents are aware of their children’s strengths and weaknesses in different areas including educational performance and needs, family relationships and beliefs, modes of deterrence against deviance, and other emotional support interventions required to perform best in social relationships. Unlike adolescents, younger children absorbed in step-families tend to cope better arguably because they normally have had a very short duration of living with their real parents to appreciate their importance (Clarke-Stewart, & Brentano, 2007). By contrast, adolescents have had a relatively longer duration of time with the two parents and thus understand the real facts behind a divorce or separation. Besides, most of them are in a position to tell the difference between parental support and foster support. Criticism Despite the fact that variations in the outcomes of the problem are distinct, Baxter, Weston and Lixia (2011) noted that parental divorce or separation may be the most important trigger but not the basic cause of children developmental problems. The multifaceted nature of issues which affect families around the time of divorce and separation are a process, rather than an instant event, hence warrants close examination. The confusion dominating discussions about the impacts of divorce on minors and the adolescents arguably shows a failure to differentiate between family dissolution as a process and as an instant occurrence (Jolivet, 2011). It is arguable therefore, that knowledge of the process and of the triggers of this process is vital if interventions are to be established to optimize the likelihoods that children undergoing parental divorce or separation would emerge with minimal negative developmental outcomes. In addition, children and adolescents experiencing divorce usually have the ability to make more adjustments than adults due to their flexibility to growth and development. Limiting the negative developmental symptoms of divorce or separation such as sadness or antisocial behaviour is therefore easily achievable in the group than in adults (McIntosh, Smyth, & Kelaher, 2013). For individuals whose parents immediately form new platforms for cooperation and support, near seamless transition could be achieved. The same positive outcomes have been registered in children who are absorbed in foster families comprising two adults and step-siblings. The solutions Owing to the negative impacts of divorce or separation on child development, parents contemplating dissolving their marriages should understand that parenthood is permanent even when the couple opts to be estranged (Lee, 2001). This line of thought would ensure the needs of children are paramount even after marriage dissolution. Proper understanding of the consequences on the children will pave the way for exploring the best ways to take care of their interests. Inalienable interests of children and adolescents normally include: custody, financial support for upkeep and education, organizing regular visits, and giving joint emotional support, even where the differences are irreconcilable, provided there is no element of violence involved (Stadelmann, Perren, Groeben, & Von, 2010). Such responses would give them the impression that the family is still intact but, may be the parents have just decided to stay apart. Parents should understand that acting in the best interests of children means tampering one’s needs and demands in the dissolved marriage with the children’s interests (Jolivet, 2011). If parents understood that children are a joint responsibility of every couple, divorcees or separated couples would continue providing adequate care for development of their children health-wise, physically, cognitively, psychologically and emotionally (Baxter, Weston, & Lixia, 2011). To achieve this, especially in situations where there are no hostilities or abuse, parents should dissolve the marriage with decorum by putting aside their demands and individual interests to meet their children’s future needs. This might sound like an old-fashioned concept, but adult parents who have additional child-rearing responsibilities should forfeit the right to engage in anything each of them may want and adopt what is reasonable for the other partner and the children (Smyth, Rodgers, Liz, & Vu, 2012). By making child development the priority of the post-separation or post-divorce arrangement, the development of children will be less hampered by the impacts of family dissolution. Policy implications The government should prioritize the welfare of children by expanding the support and care to include couples, because they have the greatest role to play in child development. This can be achieved by employing guidance and counsellors who are experienced in family relationships and family law at the local levels to assist those who are contemplating divorce or separation to do so in a civilized manner if they cannot resolve their differences to let the family hold for the sake of the children development (Baxter, Weston, & Lixia, 2011). Such interventions can only be viable if the parents in question seize the chance to benefit from the services, however. As such, it behoves parents to consult general practitioners, teachers, religious leaders and family lawyers in order to be well-conversant with the most effective approaches to child development upon divorce or separation. The government should also create public awareness on the negative impacts of divorce and separation on children as well as control measures (Brain, 2001). This way, more parents would refrain from divorce or separation, but for those who still feel that family dissolution is the most favourable action, they will do it peacefully and find consistent answers and interventions for their children. The research gap The resources point to serious negative impacts of divorce or separation on children. However, future studies should focus on parental separation as a process rather than an instant occurrence (Moloney, 2013). This will deliver invaluable outcomes on how the process can be damaging or preparative to the children in respect of the impending developments as well as for more effective interventions. Conclusion Parental separation and divorce have serious negative impacts on children development, because in the short-term, the experience leaves children and adolescents struggling to cope emotionally and unable to engage in their routine activities. The short-term impacts of family dissolution on the affected children include; anger, blame-game, self-denial, low mood and poor self-esteem. These impacts have been registered in virtually all children irrespective of age. Sadness usually leads to the victims’ withdrawal from their social groups, causing solitude, and other psychological problems that hinder developmental activities. As a consequence, the victims normally perform poorly in school. Anger among the children can also prompt the children to harbour feelings of neglect, guilt, worry, and insecurity while under the care of one parent or a foster-family. These emotions are very detrimental to the development of children and adolescents after divorce or separation. 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Post-separation patterns of childrens overnight stays with each parent: A detailed snapshot. Journal of Family Studies, 18(2/3), 202-221. Stadelmann, S., Perren, S., Groeben, M., & Von, K. K., (2010). Parental Separation and Childrens Behavioral/Emotional Problems: The Impact of Parental Representations and Family Conflict. Family Process, 49(1), 92-108. Vreeman, R.C., Carroll, A.E. (2007). A Systematic Review of School-Based Interventions to Prevent Bullying. Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 161, 78-88. Appendix Figure 1 showing the synthesis of data and information. Figure 2 is a chart showing finer synthesis of information from the wider process of identification, through screening, eligibility and to inclusion Read More