Effects Of Divorce On Children - Essay Example

Running Head: Effects of Divorce Effects of Divorce to Children Name of Student Subject/Course No. Name of Professor Date Abstract Divorce is a social phenomenon that has far reaching impact to development of individual in the society. Its long term effect on children facilitates the future relationship behavior of society. Children of divorced parents are found to be psychologically affected by their parents’ divorce that they tend to lack the emotional ability to sustain long term relationships particularly in building trust and deep relationship with their partners. Thus, they themselves end up with a marriage full of marital discord and eventually divorce. Such phenomenon led to the prevalence of one head households in society which distorts children’s perception of family structure. It affects their orientation on how relationship and family should be maintained. Eventually, their manner of relationship building will also become flawed due to the severe psychological impact of divorce to them. Introduction American society has a high rate of divorce recorded starting in the year 1980 (Amato, Paul & Sobolewski, J. 2001). It is estimated that 40% of marriages ends in divorce while 75% of divorced parents marry again wherein 50% of them will end up in divorce (Hagman, J. & Bechtold, D., and 2002:173). Further, 30% of children population in the USA is living in homes with only one parent; 61% of children born every year are expected to eventually live with only one parent as a result of divorce before 18 years old (Sadock, J, Kaplan, H, & Sadock, V., 2007:33). These statistics clearly shows that many children are affected by divorce. It is already recognized to cause a lot of stress not only to them as well due to the changes it bring to their lives. A lot of literatures discussed the effect of divorce on children in relation to their social, economic, and psychological growth as individuals. This essay will discuss these effects by presenting information culled out from selected literatures under these three aspects of children’s lives. Effects of Divorce to Children Six literatures are referenced in this essay discussing the effects of divorce to children. Discussion will hinge on the mediation model developed by Amato and Sobolewski (2001) that shows the relationship of parents’ divorce to the children’s socio-economic attainment, relationships, and psychological well-being. This essay will treat this model as the structure that will guide the presentation of idea from other literature. It will bear into mind the age and gender of children when discussing the effects of divorce. Although, the model is set up by Amato and Sobolewski (2001) to present the interplay of processes as an effect of divorce towards its long term impact to children’s psychological well-being, discussion on short term effects of divorce will be touched in this essay. Figure 1. Mediation Model between Parents' Divorce and Childrens' Well-Being (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001:902) Social Research shows that Children of divorced parents are not prepared for their family structure since parents usually do not discuss with them about the imminent break up of their family (Stewart, A & Brentano, C, 2006:132). Thus, these children face a lot of changes in their social lives. Their family ties, particularly to either parent, are affected wherein immediate effect is the limited amount of time that they will spend to either of their parents . Usually children will have limited contact with their fathers (Jamison, Lesley, 2001) since most divorces resulted to the children staying with their mothers. This is exacerbated when either of the parents move out of the area where the child is living or one of the parent remarries and loses regular contact with the children. As a result, children might need to live away from the homes or areas they lived with their parents. They have to change schools and adjust to new social environments. Five studies conducted from 1991 to 2000 revealed that children of divorced parents have the higher probability to drop-out from high school or skip college (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001: 902). Children ages five to eight years old are reported failing performances in school (Hagman & Bechtold, 2002; Sadock, Kaplan & Sadock, 2007). Adolescents are found to be more likely to enter into premarital sex at an earlier age and become parents early. Boys are found to be more aggressive compared to girls. Further, children of divorced parents are found to be antisocial and have attention deficit disorders. (Sadock, Kaplan & Sadock, 2007). Economic Change in lifestyle is one certain effect of divorce to children particularly when the parent where the child lives with has difficulty earning enough money to cover the child’s needs. This is particularly true for mothers who are staying at home prior to the divorce and has struggle finding work after the divorce. Researchers found out that income of divorced household does not rises as fast as that of intact families; hence children face losing access to material things (Stewart & Brentano, 2006: 132). Also, single parents particularly mothers do not have enough income to support the material needs of their children; hence 27% of children living with their mothers suffers poverty (Stewart & Brentano, 2006:135). Psychological Pre-schoolers are usually confused by their parents’ divorce. They do not have enough cognitive maturity to understand what is going on. Their limited means to cope or understand what is going on take them a lot of time to adjust to their new family set up, which usually take years. They are very sensitive and emotionally attached to their parents. Their confusion over the divorce might lead them to blame themselves why it happened compelling them to take actions to bring their parents back. (Jamison, 2001). “Behavioral regression, expressing fears of separation at night, sleep disturbances and irritability” (Hagman & Bechtold, 2002:173) are behavioral manifestations of the effects of divorce on preschoolers. Older children between the ages six to eight years old also hope that their parents get back together and thus might interfere strongly to the new relationships that their parents get into. However, unlike the preschoolers, the probability of blaming themselves for the divorce is lower although they too are distressed over the separation. Children ages nine to twelve years old have better maturity in understanding the divorce of their parents. Thus, they openly express their dissatisfaction over it and side with either one of their parents. (Jamison, 2001; Hagman & Bechtold, 2002) Adolescent children, on the other hand, adjust faster to the divorce set up of their parents since they have the cognitive ability to discern the reasons why their parents separate. Their identity formulation of themselves, however, is affected by the divorce; hence their personality development might get affected. The risk of developing psychological problems in adulthood beset children of divorced families which have been pointed out in many studies. Further, they were found to suffer sadness, discontentment, personally undisciplined, depressed and frequently requires help in mental health in adulthood based on the results of nine studies from 1985 to 2000 in the USA. Three studies from Britain, Australia and Canada corroborated such findings. (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001). These effects are exacerbated when children witness their parents relationship deteriorates after divorce like witnessing them fighting or not saying good about each other. The results of these studies prompted academic scholars to conclude that divorce have long term effects on the well being of children encompassing even into adulthood. It usually starts 12 years after the child’s exposure to a divorce crisis or parental discord that might occur even before the divorce itself (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001). Adult Relationship either to Parents or Other People Children of divorced parents were found to have a higher probability of having unstable personal relationship during adulthood. They were found to be less satisfied and find more problems with their own marriages which usually also lead into divorce just like what their parents had when they were younger (Amato et al, cited in Amato & Sobolewski, 2001: 903). This finding is corroborated by five other studies conducted from 1987 to 1991 (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001: 903). Also, divorce is found to cause strained or distant relationship between parents and children. Six studies conducted from 1991 to 1997 found that they have lesser contact, assist each other less, and children do not usually speak of positive relationship with their parents (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001:904). This is mostly manifested towards the children’s fathers as corroborated by the data that approximately 90% of single households are managed by mothers wherein half of this figure has children with limited contact with their fathers (Hagman & Bechtold, 2002:173). Divorce was also seen as influencing factor for adolescent children leaving home early indicating conflict between parents and children (Amato & Booth, Coonery, cited in Amato & Sobolewski, 2001: 904). This usually happened when they witnessed complaints and negative talk from their parents prompting them to rebel or dissociate themselves from the emotional stress their parents are causing (Hagman & Bechtold, 2002) Longitudinal study over 17 years showed that the weakened relationship of children towards their parents during adulthood is mainly caused by the weakened emotional ties they have as a result of the conflicts between parents due to divorce (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001:916) and their life adjustments after it (Hagman & Bechtold, 2002:173). Children leaving home early during their adolescent years have lesser parental emotional support during early adulthood which affects their ability to adjust to a life of responsibility and relationship maintenance (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001: 916). Inability to relate deeply and trust their partners in intimate relationships exacerbate the failing relationships that adult children of divorced parents experience (Corsaro, 2005). Conclusion Divorce has a long lasting effect on the well-being of children crucially affecting their abilities to sustain long lasting relationships. Such psychological effect will only repeat the cycle of divorces in society further exacerbating the problem. Parents should strive hard not to lose focus on their children while they are physically and emotionally beaten by the stress caused by divorce. They should maintain strong emotional bond with their children that will put balance and security in their lives even when they only have one head household to live with. References Lesley Foulkes-Jamison (1 November 2001). The Effects of Divorce on Children. Clinical Psychology Associates of North Central Florida. Accessed at http://cpancf.com/articles_files/efffectsdivorceonchildren.asp on 12 November 2008 Paul R. Amatao and Juliana M. Sobolewski ( December 2001). The Effects of Divorce and Marital Discord on Adult Children’s Psychological Well-Being. American Sociological Review, Vol. 66, No.6, December 2001, ppp.900-92 Jennifer Hagman, Donald W. Bechtold, compiled by William W. Hay, Anthony Hayward, Myron J. Levin and Judith M. Sondheimer (2002). Chapter 6: Child Adolescents Psychiatric Disorders & Psychosocial Aspects of Pediatrics, Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment , McGraw-Hill Professional, Benjamin J. Sadock, Harold I. Kaplan and Virginia A. Sadock (2007). Chapter 2: Human Development Throughout the Life Cycle, Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Alison Clarke-Stewart and Cornelia Brentano (2006). Divorce: Causes and Consequences. Yale University Press, 2006 William A. Corsaro (2005). The Sociology of Childhood. Pine Forge Press, 2005 Read More

Thus, these children face a lot of changes in their social lives. Their family ties, particularly to either parent, are affected wherein immediate effect is the limited amount of time that they will spend to either of their parents . Usually children will have limited contact with their fathers (Jamison, Lesley, 2001) since most divorces resulted to the children staying with their mothers. This is exacerbated when either of the parents move out of the area where the child is living or one of the parent remarries and loses regular contact with the children.

As a result, children might need to live away from the homes or areas they lived with their parents. They have to change schools and adjust to new social environments. Five studies conducted from 1991 to 2000 revealed that children of divorced parents have the higher probability to drop-out from high school or skip college (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001: 902). Children ages five to eight years old are reported failing performances in school (Hagman & Bechtold, 2002; Sadock, Kaplan & Sadock, 2007).

Adolescents are found to be more likely to enter into premarital sex at an earlier age and become parents early. Boys are found to be more aggressive compared to girls. Further, children of divorced parents are found to be antisocial and have attention deficit disorders. (Sadock, Kaplan & Sadock, 2007). Economic Change in lifestyle is one certain effect of divorce to children particularly when the parent where the child lives with has difficulty earning enough money to cover the child’s needs.

This is particularly true for mothers who are staying at home prior to the divorce and has struggle finding work after the divorce. Researchers found out that income of divorced household does not rises as fast as that of intact families; hence children face losing access to material things (Stewart & Brentano, 2006: 132). Also, single parents particularly mothers do not have enough income to support the material needs of their children; hence 27% of children living with their mothers suffers poverty (Stewart & Brentano, 2006:135).

Psychological Pre-schoolers are usually confused by their parents’ divorce. They do not have enough cognitive maturity to understand what is going on. Their limited means to cope or understand what is going on take them a lot of time to adjust to their new family set up, which usually take years. They are very sensitive and emotionally attached to their parents. Their confusion over the divorce might lead them to blame themselves why it happened compelling them to take actions to bring their parents back.

(Jamison, 2001). “Behavioral regression, expressing fears of separation at night, sleep disturbances and irritability” (Hagman & Bechtold, 2002:173) are behavioral manifestations of the effects of divorce on preschoolers. Older children between the ages six to eight years old also hope that their parents get back together and thus might interfere strongly to the new relationships that their parents get into. However, unlike the preschoolers, the probability of blaming themselves for the divorce is lower although they too are distressed over the separation.

Children ages nine to twelve years old have better maturity in understanding the divorce of their parents. Thus, they openly express their dissatisfaction over it and side with either one of their parents. (Jamison, 2001; Hagman & Bechtold, 2002) Adolescent children, on the other hand, adjust faster to the divorce set up of their parents since they have the cognitive ability to discern the reasons why their parents separate. Their identity formulation of themselves, however, is affected by the divorce; hence their personality development might get affected.

The risk of developing psychological problems in adulthood beset children of divorced families which have been pointed out in many studies. Further, they were found to suffer sadness, discontentment, personally undisciplined, depressed and frequently requires help in mental health in adulthood based on the results of nine studies from 1985 to 2000 in the USA.

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