Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Divorce Impact on Children

Better Essays
1232 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Divorce Impact on Children
Divorce Impact on Children
Deana Blanford
Grand Canyon University
PCN 518
February 2, 2011
Abstract

Divorce can be an emotional and stressful event in any person’s life. For a child the thought of not having both parents around can be overwhelming. In this essay we will look at the impact of divorce on three subgroups of children, preschool, school aged and adolescent children. Each group displays emotions and how they handle the change in the family dynamics in very specific ways based on their ability level.

Parent can provide positive experiences for these children involved in a family separation in many different ways to assist in a healthy transition with the least amount of stress and conflict. Both parents can lend a hand in putting the children in these situations first by working together even in not so perfect conditions. Working together to ensure the best outcome for the children involved takes time, effort and determination.
Divorce Impact on Children
Divorce rates are currently at an all time high. Divorce impacts pre-school children, school-aged and adolescent children with very personal and sometimes, permanent consequences. All children react to the emotional stressors of family divorce and separation. Although divorce impacts everyone involved, children are impacted in different ways based on their level of maturity as well as their understanding of emotions and their use of coping skills.
Divorce and the Pre-school Child
Young child are vulnerable to the effects of divorce and separation, especially children young than 5 years old. The reasoning behind the vulnerability at this age is a combination of the interruption of the attachment relationships they have formed and the child’s limited cognitive ability to understand what divorce is. Preschool children have many reactions toward divorce to include feeling responsible, holding in anger, or may become aggressive and angry toward the parent he/she lives with (Amato, 1994). Some behaviors are normal during the beginning of the separation or divorce but should not last more than six months. Behaviors lasting longer may indicate a more serious problem or even developmental setbacks.
When a preschooler feels insecure about the relationships with his/her parent they run the risk of some serious regression in development. Children in this age group will benefit from overnight contact with each parent (Stahl, 2007). During this chunk of time with each parent provides them with the time needed to establish a routine at each house and to get settled in. It is important for parents to understand that the child should not be witness to any direct conflict.
Stahl (2007) indicates that it is important to devise a parenting plan that will maximize the strengths of each parent. Developing a parenting plan will assist with issues to be resolved such as child custody and visitations. Mediation is available to assist with co-parenting issues.
Divorce and the school aged child When children reach school age their cognitive abilities increase and they begin to understand what divorce is. They increase social relationships other than those established with his/her parents. Socialization and being identified as a part of a group are important to the school aged child. As they skills such as academics they also learn how to begin expressing their feelings. Children in this age group may feel overwhelmed by the family conflict. Amato (1994) indicates that possible reactions include: feeling deceived and a sense of loss, rejected by the parent that left, has trouble sleeping, or worries about the future. Complications in school may show up as well to include behavior problems and academic concerns. Parent should work hard to provide a parenting plan that will affect the school aged child in a positive way. Reassure them that everything will be alright, just different from what they are use to. Answering questions about the changes that are getting ready to take place can help the child ease into the issue of custody and visitation. Using books to help them talk about feelings work well with children of all ages. Parent should remind the child that he/she is not responsible for the divorce and that both parents still love them. They should also keep an eye out for signs of depression and fear displayed by the child. This will aid parents in spotting a problem early on in order to seek professional help if depression is prolonged or intense.
Divorce and the adolescent Adolescents understand divorce but they do not accept the new changes in the family dynamics. They are prone to responding to their parent’s divorce with acute depression, suicidal ideation, and sometimes violent acting out episodes (Eleoff, 2003). Although adolescents have a more complex level of thinking they tend to focus on the moral issues of divorce and will often judge their parents’ decisions and actions. Behrman & Quinn (2004) provides some feelings that adolescents may display: feelings of abandonment, feel the obligation to take on more adult responsibilities in the family, they may withdraw from friends and favorite activities or act out such as using bad language and being rebellious. Parent should always maintain lines of communication and reassure the child that both parents love them. They should try to continue to be involved in their lives by honoring special family activities. Whenever possible, parent should keep up with children’s progress at school and other activities such as sporting event. The adolescent should be told who will be attending special occasions, especially if you plan to bring a new romantic interest. By doing this can cut down on unnecessary conflict and behaviors from the adolescent. Adolescents should be allowed room to have a say in the parenting plan when possible, and reasonable. Many children will have a preference as to which house they would like to live at and have visitations to the other house on weekends with the other parent. This can help discourage rebellion by the adolescent when they feel that the parents are listening to them.
Conclusion
Divorce is tuff on everyone involved. Parents must reassure children involved that they are not the reason for the divorce and the mommy and daddy still loves them. Divorce can have a major impact on the well being and development of children and adolescents. Younger children display an array of symptoms and feelings from holding anger inside to feeling rejected by the parent who left. Adolescents can hold feelings of anger and fell obligated to take on more adult responsibilities. Although all these feeling are important for parents to address it is also important to recognize major concerns and not be afraid to seek professional help from a therapist or other mental health professional. In all the issues of divorce, just remember that parents do not have to do it alone; counselors and mediators are available to help make sense of it all.

Type
References
WEBSITE
Eleoff, S. (2003). An Exploration of the Ramifications of Divorce on Children and Adolescents. Divorce effects on children. Retrieved from www.childadvocate.net
BOOK
Behrman, R. E., & Quinn, L. (1994). Children and Divorce: Overview and Analysis In Children and Divorce, 4(1). Packard Foundation.
BOOK
Amato, P. (1994). Life-span adjustment of Children to their Parents ' Divorce, In Children and Divorce, 4(1). Packard Foundation.
BOOK
Stahl, Ph.D., P. M. (2007). Parenting After Divorce, Resolving Conflicts and Meeting your Children 's needs (2nd ed.). Atascadero: Impact Publisher.

References: WEBSITE Eleoff, S. (2003). An Exploration of the Ramifications of Divorce on Children and Adolescents. Divorce effects on children. Retrieved from www.childadvocate.net BOOK Behrman, R. E., & Quinn, L. (1994). Children and Divorce: Overview and Analysis In Children and Divorce, 4(1). Packard Foundation. BOOK Amato, P. (1994). Life-span adjustment of Children to their Parents ' Divorce, In Children and Divorce, 4(1). Packard Foundation. BOOK Stahl, Ph.D., P. M. (2007). Parenting After Divorce, Resolving Conflicts and Meeting your Children 's needs (2nd ed.). Atascadero: Impact Publisher.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The chapter 5 of Clarke-Stewart & Brentano chapter discusses the children's strong emotions in response to the divorce of their parents, such as sadness, anger, anxiety, and fear. They have significant problems about their mental health, well-being, and school performance. Different age's children have different reactions and problems. For infants, their parental attachment will be disrupted is the major issue. Preschoolers may become irritable, withdrawn, and feared.…

    • 169 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Parents are often told to “think about the children.” Doctor Judith S. Wallerstein, the Executive Director of the Center for the Family in Transition, California, stated in her scholarly journal : “A comprehensive review of research from several disciplines regarding long-term effects of divorce on children yields a growing consensus that significant numbers of children suffer for many years from psychological and social difficulties associated with continuing and/or new stresses within the post-divorce family and experience heightened anxiety in forming enduring attachments at later developmental stages including young adulthood.” In this, Wallerstein is making the claim that divorce effects children so deeply that they suffer from stress, anxiety, and psychological and social difficulties. While these have been common results, divorce is sometimes in the well-being of all family members. If parents argue often, disrupting and terrifying children, (especially if young) then separating would relieve family members from the anxiety that arguments and fighting cause. Robert E. Emery, a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Children, Families, and the Law, Virginia, claims experts are often confused on the true effects of divorce on children. In his article, he includes children whose parents’ marriage “was full of intense conflict and…

    • 1392 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Children of Divorce

    • 3716 Words
    • 15 Pages

    When parents divorce, children’s interests are often ignored or discounted. Angry parents are focused on exacting revenge, or are interested in moving on to a new life, and disregard the painful emotions experienced by their children. School difficulties that the children experience are viewed as problems endemic to the child, rather than latent results of sometimes protracted and contentious divorce, and custody proceedings. Court procedures recommend, and often require that children and adults pursue individual…

    • 3716 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    All over the world, parents decide to divorce and this leaves children hurt and confused. Because of their innocence and immaturity, children are unable to process stressful events as adults are. Their reactions and behavior can range from delicate to quick-tempered. The children may lose contact with one parent or they might decide to makes some bad decisions in their life due to the feelings of neglect. Some of the bad choices could be violence and struggling in academics. There are impacts on teens that could be short term but there are also long term effects too, because children look up to their parents as role models. Family clearly impacts teenagers, especially a divorce. Faber and Wittenborn (2010) report that on average, children in divorced families and stepfamilies, as compared to those in non-divorced families, are more likely to exhibit behavioral and emotional problems, lower social competence and self-esteem, less socially responsible behavior, and…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Divorce is one of the most serious social problems that America is facing today. The divorce rate is constantly growing and in present days it is extremely high. Presently over half of marriages end in divorce, many of these involve children. Families are often ruined by divorce because this leaves many children in the middle, being separated from one of the parents, therefore they cannot continue a family life as before, everything changes with divorce. With divorced parents children are vulnerable to lifelong negative effects on their development as well as with their ability to grow into healthy, mature adults. This paper…

    • 2247 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Every year, over one million children in the U.S. have to deal with the hardships of their parents getting a divorce, and almost all these divorces involve the children being under 18 years of age. Divorce impacts everyone involved, but more so the children. Divorce can have an abundantly negative effect on the child’s life, and it can cause problems from the beginning of the divorce and continues on into the times ahead. Some of these effects of divorce on children include: A greater chance of getting divorced in the future, poor social skills and suffering emotionally as well as academically.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Neale, B., & Flowerdew, J. (2007). New Structures, New Agency: The Dynamics of Child-Parent Relationships After Divorce. International Journal of Children’s Rights 15 (2007) 25–42 , 15 (1), 25-42, doi: 10.1163/092755607X185546.…

    • 3606 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Each year, over 1 million American children experience the divorce of their parents. Currently in the United States, about 40% of first marriages end in divorce. In addition more than half of all divorces involve children under the age of eighteen. “Approximately 5 million Canadians separated or divorced within the last 20 years”, according to data from the 2011 General Social Survey on Families. Substantial evidence in social science research and journals demonstrates that these children are affected mentally, emotionally, and socially and will last into adulthood. It is important to know the impact that divorce has on children. In this paper we will focus on the child’s stress in different age groups due to divorce and how they immediately…

    • 192 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Time Bomb

    • 2075 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Cited: Afifi, Tamara D. "The Impact of Divorce on Children:." Ted Talks. Santa Barabara, California,…

    • 2075 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Divorce affects millions of families throughout the world. The United States has the highest occurrence of divorce in the world, with the highest number of children affected. Forty percent of the children in this country will experience parental divorce. Children experiencing parental divorce will go through emotional phases similar to those of the parents, but the effects of divorce last much longer for children than they do for the adults. The emotional impact of divorce on children can last well into their adulthood. Children who experience parental divorce exhibit more conduct problems. Children with conduct problems are more likely to engage in adolescent delinquent behavior. They have lower academic achievement, and are more likely to drop out of school. This can cause a them to have a lower level of education which will affect their future career. Children often blame themselves for their parents divorce. It is important to reassure children that they…

    • 1846 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Masci, David. "Children and Divorce." CQ Researcher 19 Jan. 2001: 25-40. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.…

    • 3051 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cited: "Analysis: Effects of divorce on children." Talk of the Nation 31 Jan. 2002. Literature Resource Center. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.…

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Very few parents take divorce lightly (Henslin, 2011). Each parent’s views can vary dramatically depending on the situation. No matter what the situation though, divorcing couples usually have the same types of feelings. They often find themselves on an emotional roller-coaster, and are filled with fears about an uncertain future (Henslin, 2011). Their identity is being shattered, and all of a sudden the person they had believed they would spend the rest of their lives with is not that person anymore. They worry about the future and they also worry about the effects the divorce will have on their children (Henslin, 2011). Parents who are going through a divorce often lose sight about how it might be effecting the children. They are usually preoccupied with their own emotions and be angry and hostile toward one another (Szilagyi, 2007)…

    • 678 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    About 75% of all children oppose their parents’ divorce, and the other 15% are children who frequently witness their parents’ loud arguments, accusations and even physical violence. As a result, they do not go against the divorce because they just want the fighting to stop. Psychological effects also vary by age. If the children are pre-school aged, the effects of divorce usually are behavioral; they become angry and seemingly impossible to please. Pre-school children can usually sense the tension and feel as if is their fault. Middle and high school aged children often have more advanced reactions, because of their further developed understanding skills. Children of this age might fantasize about their parents getting back together or even the use drugs and alcohol to cover up the pain they’re experiencing at home; the older the child is the more difficult it is to deal with…

    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Every year, over 1 million American children suffer the divorce of their parents. Half of these children experience divorce before they become eighteen. The effects of divorce on children are depression or even nervous breakdown. Children are usually sensitive and are more susceptible to be more emotional. Children also become short tempered, destructive and isolated. Some of the causes are rapid change in society, pressure to marry, families in the modern world don't stay together as often, children live away from home, many young people rush into marriage, sexual problems, alcohol and substance abuse, money, immaturity and jealous attitude, violence, in-laws, lack of communication. Effects of divorce are usually hard on everybody involved. “For women: Women initiate divorce twice as often as men. After divorce, women experience less stress and better adjustment than do men. The reasons for this are that women are more likely to notice marital problems and to feel relief when such problems end. Women are more…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays