Effects of Divorce on Children and Adolescents
Effects of Divorce on Children and Adolescents
Emme Pasuit
Education 6010
Dr. Hubbard
Fall 2008
Divorce negatively affects children and adolescents emotionally, socially and cognitively, as a result there is a profound academic impact. This impact is felt not only by the children but also the educators. It doesn 't necessarily mean that children of divorced parents have different academic needs but it suggests educators need to be sensitive to the experiences of these children to help them succeed. In 2006 more than two million children experienced the turmoil and emotional intensity of their parents’ divorce. They struggled to make sense of complex events. They were forced to adapt to new environments and less nurturing and attention from their parents. Compounding evidence proves children who experience divorce fare poorly in educational attainment, economic security, and physical and psychological well-being (Anderson 2002). The number of children affected by divorce has more than tripled since 1960. Rates of divorce and remarriage (and in half of remarriages, another divorce) have soared in the United States, and the odds in the U.S. are about 50% now that a divorce will occur in a household before the children have grown up. If parents of these children re-marry the chances that the new relationship will end in divorce climbs to 67%, and 73% for a third marriage (Divorce Statistics web site). Emotionally, adolescents are exposed to many stressors of divorce. Moving, drop in household income, possible abandonment by one parent and becoming a caregiver to other siblings are emotional stressors that may effect the adolescents entire personality. Divorce had serious negative consequences on the psychological well-being of children both before and after the divorce (cited in Children of Divorce web site). Children begin to suffer the emotional aspects of divorce even before the technical state of divorce has
Emme Pasuit
Education 6010
Dr. Hubbard
Fall 2008
Divorce negatively affects children and adolescents emotionally, socially and cognitively, as a result there is a profound academic impact. This impact is felt not only by the children but also the educators. It doesn 't necessarily mean that children of divorced parents have different academic needs but it suggests educators need to be sensitive to the experiences of these children to help them succeed. In 2006 more than two million children experienced the turmoil and emotional intensity of their parents’ divorce. They struggled to make sense of complex events. They were forced to adapt to new environments and less nurturing and attention from their parents. Compounding evidence proves children who experience divorce fare poorly in educational attainment, economic security, and physical and psychological well-being (Anderson 2002). The number of children affected by divorce has more than tripled since 1960. Rates of divorce and remarriage (and in half of remarriages, another divorce) have soared in the United States, and the odds in the U.S. are about 50% now that a divorce will occur in a household before the children have grown up. If parents of these children re-marry the chances that the new relationship will end in divorce climbs to 67%, and 73% for a third marriage (Divorce Statistics web site). Emotionally, adolescents are exposed to many stressors of divorce. Moving, drop in household income, possible abandonment by one parent and becoming a caregiver to other siblings are emotional stressors that may effect the adolescents entire personality. Divorce had serious negative consequences on the psychological well-being of children both before and after the divorce (cited in Children of Divorce web site). Children begin to suffer the emotional aspects of divorce even before the technical state of divorce has
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