The Effects Of Divorce On Children

Social Issues Topic: Divorce
Divorce is becoming very common in the United States and leads to many problems not only for those getting the divorce, but also for the children. Divorce increases a child’s risk for psychological and behavioral problems in the future. Behavioral problems can affect the child immensely and even results in the child having to see a psychiatrist. According to one article, children whose parents get divorced are twice as likely to visit a mental health facility (Collins 1). Other psychological problems include increased teen pregnancies, declining grades in school, and higher rates of dropping out of school (1). Statistical evidence also shows that male offspring have higher rates of anger and conduct problems
when parents separate (1). Divorce affects the offspring’s psychosis in negative ways.
In today’s society, many people, especially the offspring, have negative outlooks on marriage due to the fact that about one in every two marriages ends up in divorce. Statistical evidence shows that those who get married at a younger age are more likely to get divorced. According to the article, “U.S. Divorce Rate Statistics”, women who get married under the age of twenty are twenty-eight percent more likely to get a divorce than men who are also under twenty. Evidence has also found that those in arranged marriages are less likely to get divorced than those who pick their spouses.
The increase in the number of children with divorced parents has been associated with demographic changes. Among some of the changes with children under eighteen are those who live with an unmarried couple, a one-parent family, and those who live with a stepfather or stepmother with a biological parent. Statistical evidence shows that thirty-three percent of all children under eighteen years have lived with a divorced parent (Glick 1). Today 's society has a poor attitude toward marriage due to the prevalence of divorce. Divorce is so common today because people do not value marriage like they should. Married couples are not making every effort possible to make their marriage last and are giving up easily. As a result, they end up getting a divorce instead of trying to make their marriage work. Parents or married couples do not realize that they are damaging children 's emotional development along with their views of marriage. Marriage needs to be taken more seriously instead of ending it by taking the “easy way out” (divorce). The staggering divorce rate in the United States has majorly affected children whose parents get a divorce.
According to the peer-reviewed article, The Divorce Controversy, most kids are affected emotionally from divorce. When there is divorce, a family becomes separated, not just the parents. It is very difficult for a child to deal with their parents being split up. Not only are their parents not together, but they also have two different homes, two different bedrooms, their belongings are separated and much more. Because of divorce many things change in a child’s life such as where they go to school, who their friends are, and how they spend their free time. Children from a divorced family constantly suffer from the feeling of being abandoned, worrying about if their parents are happy, embarrassment from their peers, fear of getting in a relationship and that they too may get a divorce in the future, and anxiety and uncertainty of the future ahead of
them. Not only does divorce change a child’s life but it also increases the risk for psychological and behavioral problems for the child in the future. “The best available research shows that children of divorce are more likely—possibly twice as likely - to find themselves visiting a mental health professional” (Collins 1). Other psychological problems include teen pregnancies, declining grades in school or even dropping out of school. These incidences show up twice as much for single parents families. Also, boys from divorced parents more noticeably have anger and conduct problems. Divorce affects the child’s psychosis for the worst, rather than the better.
Many articles on the matter of divorce reveal that children who are from intact and not divorced families show less behavioral issues.
There is also evidence that children from divorced or remarried families have psychological adjustment issues while growing up. (Ahrons, 2004; Hetherington, Bridges, & Insabella, 1998; Kelly & Lamb 2000).
Divorce mentally and physically affects those splitting up in negative ways. Strong and lasting marriages are good for a couples’ mental and physical health. They are also good for children. When a child is brought up in a happy home it protects them from emotional, educational, physical and social problems, as mentioned before. Yet, the divorce rate for married couples in the United States is about 50 percent and this really affects a lot of people around them, themselves and their families. Also, the divorce rate for subsequent marriages is even higher.
Married couples need to value marriage and make sure that they have found their life long partner before making a vow to be with them ‘til death do us part.’ They need to remember that it is a serious matter and not only will affect them but it will affect other people in their lives such as their family and especially their children. If people take the time and effort and put them into their marriage and do things to keep their partner happy divorce rates would surely go
down.

Works Cited
1. COLLINS. "The Divorce Controversy – What We Know." Article: The Divorce Controversy-What We Know. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. .
2. GLICK, PAUL C. “Children of Divorced Parents in Demographic Perspective” Wiley Online Library. 14 APR 2010
3. MOON, MICHELLE. "The Effects Of Divorce On Children: Married And Divorced Parents ' Perspectives." Journal Of Divorce & Remarriage 52.5 (2011): 344-349. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
4. "Marriage & Divorce." Http://www.apa.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. .
5. "U.S. Divorce Rate Statistics." Statistic Brain RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. .
6. "Rising Divorce Rates." - Research Paper. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. .