The Effects of Divorce in American Culture

1715 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Cause and effects of divorce on children

The effects of divorce on the American culture are immense. Social scientists have been studying these effects for many years now. The studies are continuing to confirm that the climbing rate of divorce in the American culture is hurting the society and also frequently devastating the lives of many American children. More often than not people decide to get a divorce before they really think about the effects of divorce. People usually decide to get a divorce based on emotion rather than logic which can hinder their long term happiness. There are many areas in which divorce has a negative effect in the life of a child or an adult. Many of these effects also directly correlate to the effect on a society. However, there is hope. Although divorce is being more widely recognized as being harmful to both culture and to the individuals involved, there are many ways that a society can seek to reduce this harm and attain a goal of being a culture dedicated to the well-being of the family unit.

Children involved in a divorce are deeply affected and the lasting effects will virtually extend out to every aspect of the child's life. The statistics being provided show the many ways that this is true. Children of divorce are more likely to show signs of struggle with academic achievement have more emotional problems, are involved more frequently in drug abuse and crime, and many others. Conduct problems are common in children coming from broken homes. A study suggested that this could be due to the fact that divorce has a negative effect on the parenting a child receives (Shansky, 2002). A father becomes less involved for example. Also, a mother must adjust along with the children and often experiences depressive tendencies as a result. These...

... middle of paper ...

...future. These effects can be lessened if the rate of divorce is also lessened. There will be a cost, but the long term payoff will most certainly exceed any costs in economical terms, and the payoff will prove to be a benefit that the American culture so desperately needs.

Works Cited
Adelson, J. (1996, September). Splitting Up. Commentary, Vol. 102, n3, p63(4)

Fagan, P.F., Rector, R. (2000, October). The Effects of Divorce on America. World and I, v15, i10, pNA.

Himes, K., Coriden, J. (2004) The Indissolubility of Marriage: Reasons to Reconside Theological Studies 65.3 453+. Retrieved from GeneralOneFile. .

Shansky, J. (2002). Negative effects of divorce on child and adolescent psychosocial, adjustment. Journal of Pastoral Counseling, vol.37, p73(15).

Show More
Related

  • The Role of Divorce Support Groups for Black Christians

    2113 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the 21st century, divorce has become commonplace not only in the United States, but in many parts of the world. Franklin and Boddie (2004) reported that within 10 years about 40-50% of American marriages end in divorce. In 2009, the divorce rate in the United States stood at 3.6 per 1,000 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Divorce, however, is not only a social issue, but it has serious health implications. Divorce has been researched extensively and is considered an adverse event (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Adverse events such as personal or parental divorce has been linked to many ailments and conditions including substance abuse, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and premature mortality (Sbarra, Law, & Portley, 2011; CDC, 2009).

    Read More

  • School Guidance Counseling Group: When Parents Divorce

    2678 Words  | 6 Pages

    A significant portion of children in the United States are impacted by divorce. Empirical investigations verify that children of divorce are at a heightened risk for the development of psychological, social, behavioral and academic issues (Amato, 2000; Amato, 2001). Amato and Keith (1991) studied the welfare of children of divorce compared with that of children whose parents are still married to each other. Children from divorced families scored considerably lower on a range of outcomes and it was shown that these problems can persist into adulthood. Given the high rate of divorce and the negative effects it has on our youth, the implementation of effective prevention programs has great significance (Wolchik, West, Sandler, Tein, Coatsworth, & Lengua, 2000).

    Read More

  • How Divorce is Affecting the American Culture

    1994 Words  | 4 Pages

    Over the past decades, the patterns of family structure have changed dramatically in the United States. The typical nuclear family, two married parents with children living together in one household, is no longer the structure of the majority of the families today. The percentage of single-parent families, step-families and adopted families has increased significantly over the years. The nuclear family is a thing of the past. Family situations have tremendous influence upon a child’s academic achievement, behavior and social growth.

    Read More

  • Sociological Imagination: The Issue Of Divorce In America

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    Divorce is prevalent in many parts of the developed world, it has been estimated that roughly 50% of marriages in America up until the 1980’s ended in divorce (Rutter). Divorce is arguably a personal hardship for both partners and their children, in that the stress of the divorce places both men and women at varying risks of psychological and physical health problems (Hetherington, Stanley-Hagan and Anderson 1989). However, using C. Wright mills’ definition of the “Sociological Imagination” we begin to view divorce as not just a personal problem of a particular man or woman, but as a societal concern that affects a wider category of people at a personal level. Therefore this essay will examine the societal structures which contribute to divorce

    Read More

  • The High Divorce Rate in the United States

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    Spohn, William C., and Barbara Dafoe Whitehead. "The American Myth of Divorce." Santa Clara University - Welcome. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. .

    Read More

  • American Society on the CHange during the Post- World War Years

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    First of all, America has the highest divorce rate among western nations. Divorce rate increased after every major war, and decreased during the Post-World War II economic boom. The divorce rate has more than doubled since 1940, when there were two divorces for every 1,000 persons. Now for the same number of people, there are over five divorces. Studies indicate that there is more divorce among persons with low incomes and limited education and those who marry at a very young age. Teenage marriages are much more likely to end in divorce than are all other marriages. And women who marry when they are over age 30 are the least likely to become divorced. There has been a decline in divorce in the number of couples who have children under 18. Almost 45 p...

    Read More

  • The Effects of Divorce on Children

    2257 Words  | 5 Pages

    Divorce is becoming a worldwide phenomenon, significantly affecting children’s well-being. It radically changes their future causing detrimental effects. According to (Julio Cáceres-Delpiano and Eugenio Giolito, 2008) nearly 50% of marriages end with divorce. 90% of children who lived in the USA in the 1960s stayed with their own biological parents, whereas today it makes up only 40% (Hetherington, E. Mavis, and Margaret Stanley-Hagan, 1999). Such an unfavorable problem has been increasing, because in 1969, the legislation of California State changed the divorce laws, where spouses could leave without providing causes (Child Study Center, 2001). This resolution was accepted by the other states and later, the number of divorced people has been steadily growing. Such a typical situation is common for most countries in the world, which negatively affects children’s individuality. However, remarkably little amount of people can conceive the impact of marital separation caused to offspring. (? passive) Many children after separation of parents are exposed to a number of changes in the future. They have to be getting used to a further living area, feelings and circumstances. Their response to divorce can vary and depends on age, gender and personal characteristics. This essay will show the effects of divorce on children under various aspects such as educational, psychological and social impact. In addition, it will contain data about the divorce rate in the US and present disparate reactions of children. It will also include adequate recommendations for parents as to how act to children after divorce, in order to minimize the adverse effect on children.

    Read More

  • Divorce Rhtorical Analysis

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Most people, when thinking about divorce, worry about the impact that it has on the children that are involved. Even though children are most likely better off if totally incompatible parents separate instead of staying together, divorce is about loss and change, and it is still hard for children. Everyone knows that divorce has its effects on children. There are three different sources that try to explain these effects. Graham Blaine Jr. states that divorce is a threat to all children, whereas Rhona Mahony states that divorce is not always the cause of behavioral or academic problems in children coming from divorced families. Yvette Walczak and Sheila Burns state that the extent of the damage can be determined by the parents and their methods of explanation to the children.

    Read More

  • Sociological Analysis of Divorce

    1157 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sociological Analysis of Divorce as a Social Problem and Proposed Solutions Every year approximately 2.4 million marriages occur. Out of those,2.1 millionwill file for divorce in the United States. These marriage and divorce rates have significantly increased since the years past(Coltrane and Adams, 364).According to Schoen, in the 1950’s, 15 out of 1,000 marriages ended in divorce. In the 1970’s, the rates of divorcedoubled,increasing to 40 per 1,000 marriages. Currently, the rate of marriages resulting in divorce remains the same.

    Read More

  • Evolution of the Typical American Family

    1382 Words  | 3 Pages

    One tough thing about today's American family is divorce. In 1816, one marriage out of one hundred ended in divorce. Then between the years 1869-1888, divorce increased up to one hundred and fifty percent. And the worse, between the years 1960-1980, the divorce rate increased up to two hundred and fifty percent. Divorce rates peaked in 1981 and then started to decline a little during the mid 1980's. However, divorce rates now are as high as they have ever been. Now fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce. There are five reasons for the increase in divorce. The first reason is in modern societies; individual happiness is regarded to be important so when people are unhappy with their marriage, they break-up and split. The second reason is it is easier to get divorced financially. The third reason is that women's economic independence has contributed. The fourth reason is the stigma of divorce has lessened so people are not

    Read More

  • Children of Divorced Parents

    1411 Words  | 3 Pages

    Children of divorced parents often enough feel as though the divorce is their fault and become depressed and distant while suffering from low self-esteem since they think that they are the reason their parents split. Many children of divorced parents typically grow up with behavior problems and poor self-images as though they cannot be loved or are not worthy of being loved since their parents divorced, there is the feeling of not being loved at all. The children also suffer because they are now separated from one parent and no longer have both parents in the home. This devastation causes psychiatric trauma to the child’s state of mind.

    Read More

  • The Painful and Emotional Effects of Divorce

    750 Words  | 2 Pages

    Divorce is an emotionally painful experience for everyone involved, especially toward the children in the family. But yet, the law officials continue fabricating laws and devising regulations to make it harder for spouses seeking a divorce or separation to get one. The family has to deal with child custody and support, spousal support such as counseling, property distribution, and a possible name change. Divorce is not only a financial struggle for the families involved, but it is also a nuisance between family relationships.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Divorce on Children's Mental Health

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    Amato, P. R. (2000). The consequences of divorce for adults and children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(4), 1269-1287.

    Read More

  • The Effect of Divorce on Parent and Child

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    Divorce is a plague that is destroying numerous families across the United States of America. Sadly, when husbands and wives divorce, the children are often caught directly in the middle. Throughout the years divorce has been becoming more and more common. In the 1920's it was a rare find to know a person whom had been divorced, today it is a rarity not to know of one who has been, or will be divorced. Divorce has numerous effects on the structures of families, and many devastating effects on the children that must experience it, although sometimes necessary, divorce radically changes the lives of adolescents and adults alike.

    Read More

  • The Social Issue: Divorce and Depression

    2676 Words  | 6 Pages

    Around the world divorce is common and known amongst different societies, some with higher rates than others. According to Irvin (2012), in America there is one divorce every 13 seconds. That’s 6,646 divorces per day, and 46,532 divorce per week. This is a social issue within our society that has many negative effects on everyone facing this circumstance. The divorce rate in the U.S is a problem that shows an increase in its rates compared to the past decades. According to the U.S Census Bureau, around 50 percent of marriages end in a divorce. There are many reasons for divorce from “hard” reasons (e.g., abuse and adultery) to “soft” reasons (e.g., psychological and relational problems). The two most destructive reasons for a divorce is physical violence or alcohol and drug problems, but these reason are less frequently are seen as reasons for divorce. The most common reasons for divorce are the “soft” reasons. According to William, a recent national survey found that 73% said the “lack of commitment” was their major reason for divorce. Other reasons were “ too much arguing, infidelity, marrying too young, unrealistic expectations, lack of equality in the relationship, lack of preparation for marriage, and abuse” (William, p10). Divorce has known to be a second most stressful life event, came before only by the death of a spouse and what is that stress capable? It is dispatching a serious about of anxiety and depression to people’s limbic system as emotional center in the brain. According to Taylor and Beth (2009), the stress of divorce had driven people beyond the normal grief felt in a divorce and into a clinical depression. “Nearly 15 million American adults, or about 6.7 %...

    Read More

More about The Effects of Divorce in American Culture

Open Document