Effects Of Divorce On Children

Every year over one million children under the age of 18 are affected by divorce in the United States; we have the second highest divorce rate in the world. Compared to children who are raised in a household with both their mom and dad, the children of divorce “will not observe and have no chance to learn how to create a long term loving relationship, how to resolve family conflict, how to build trust, when to compromise, when to stand firm, how to choose a lover, and how to commit to another with realistic hope that it can last,” according to Judith Wallerstein a divorce psychologist. Girls however will also become sexually active earlier, become involved with drugs and alcohol, and “silently suffer” causing more issues to resurface later
This means that they little or no contact with their father while growing up. This lack of attention from their father can cause girls to act out and look for look for attention elsewhere, some will attach themselves to a new group of friends who either drink or do drugs. “Girls commonly think that divorce is a “personal rejection from her father” making her look for protection and love from a sexual relationship,” says Lesley Jamison Pediatric Psychologist.This leads to multiple other issues since they become sexually active too early they can also find themselves caught up in an abusive or unhealthy relationship. Girls will also not be exposed to a successful relationship growing up so later in life they will try to create one on their own in whatever way they can, in order to feel loved and needed. “This also leads to them getting married and having kids too early, give birth out of wedlock and also get divorced,” according to Jamison.
*(Single parents, 1995- 2020 statistics in chart above)
Girls today are already dealt a tough hand in life and then their parents divorce is thrown at them too it puts so much more pressure on them. While boys on the other hand receive the pity effect and are allowed to be upset and act out with it being acceptable. I think that our culture is the problem and that as a society we all need to change. As divorce rates continue to increase in the United States, more children will have to deal with the separation of their parents and the stresses that come with it. Parents, friends, and our communities need to take the emphasis off of the girls that are struggling through this and allow them to transition without pressuring them with the expectations of