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Cause and effect of divorce on children
Cause and effect of divorce on children
Introduction on effect of divorce on children's behavior
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It is well known that divorce has affected uncountable amounts of children of many different age ranges. These effects may vary from positive or negative. According to Arkes (2015), “Many studies have found that parental divorce and living in a non-intact family are associated with several negative outcomes for children, including behavioral problems and lower student achievement.” (p. 1) Every child is different and will have a different experience, just as every divorce and parent relationships are different. The impact on the children can vary from academic, to behavioral, and maybe even effect their future relationships.
In a study done by Arkes (2015), it is shown that children, whose parents have divorced, will have a worse relationship with their parents than those of children who have married parents. Additionally, the relationship with the father is seemingly worse than that of the mother but both are noticeable worse off than if the parents and child were to all live together. This may be because they don’t get to see the parents as much as they used to. Furthermore, the relationship with one parent may have been closer before the
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This would be especially true in cases where things between the parents were so ugly that one parents tried to keeps the child or children away from the other parent, out of spite. Thankfully for the children’s and the non-custodial parents sake, there are laws ensuring things are in the best interest of the child. Nicolae (2014) states, “The personal connection between the parents and their children, especially minor ones, is a fundamental element of family life.” She continues on to explain that these are in place to protect the child and the parents and ultimately force the parents “to overcome the resentment that led to divorce and to continue to cooperate, as parents.” Nicolae
Jane and Charlize is a homosexual monogamous couple who have been together for almost three years. The couple has been married for two years and a half. They were dating six months before deciding to get married. Jane is a 33 years-old white Christian female who was born in Alaska. Jane is currently working as a teacher at an elementary school. Jane was previously in a heterosexual marriage, lasting seven years before divorce. Jane stated that her relationship with Charlize is her first homosexual relationship. Meanwhile, Charlize is a 24 years-old mixed race female who was born in the state of Washington. Charlize is currently a full time university student pursuing an Astrology degree. Charlize stated that she previously identified as a polyamorous. Charlize’s relationship with Jane is her first monogamous relationship. Jane and Charlize have sought therapy because of reported distress and conflict in their marriage. This paper will introduce the couple’s presenting problem, relevant clinical factors, hypnotized etiology, and countertransference issues related to the case. This assessment would serve to build the base for an effective therapeutic treatment with the couple.
“Divorce weakens the bonds between parents and children over the long run. Adult children of divorce describe relationships with both their mother and their father less positively, on average, and they are about 40 percent less likely than adults from intact marriages to say they see either parent at least several times a week” (Gallagher). This statement could be better supported if only Gallagher would have included test results of teenage or younger children of divorced parents. She could have also had other factors such as the results of the children who stayed with mom compared to children who stayed with dad. At the end of the day, regardless of the status of the parents’ relationship, a child will love whichever parent is around more. To whichever parent that shows more love, compassion, and interest. To whichever one who shows that they
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).
Divorce is an increasing problem with over half of marriages ending in divorce. It is important to understand that no marriage is identical. The excuses married couples believe they need a divorce can vary. Marriage is a life long decision and should not be taken lightly. Once you get to know a potential mate you should consider marriage, but not until you know the person you may marry as they really are and not the way they are just in front of you.
The United States Census Bureau defines family as “a group [of] any two or more people (not necessarily including a householder) residing, together, and related by birth, marriage, or adoption. A household may be composed of one such group, more than one, or none at all. The count of family groups includes family households, related subfamilies, and unrelated subfamilies.” A family composition is redefined due to remarried families with stepchildren, single-parent households, or other family forms that are caused by divorce. This form of families also redefines the roles of each family member. However, children are the most affected by the separation of parents because of an overdependence on older siblings. Dr. Bren Neale and Dr. Jennifer Flowerdew, who are both affiliated with University of Leeds UK, carried out a research of children’s non-beneficial effects of divorced parents. As they stated in their academic article in “New Structures, New Agency: The Dynamics of Child-Parent Relationships After Divorce,” “sibling can play a significant ro...
“Children of divorce are more than twice as likely to have serious social, emotional, or psychological problems as children of intact families…” (Parke, Mary, “Are Married Parents Really Better for Children?” p. 4). Not receiving the support and nurturing that is needed from both parents during adolescents can affect the future decisions made by children at a later stage in their lives. The guidance that is needed for children to make their life long decisions such as continuing education, certain situation thinking processes and decisions. Divorced parents will face loss of income compared to a two parent income, depression, and self-acceptance. Separating mothers and fathers in a childbearing family will lead the mother or father to having to split the roles or replace the role of the other parent in the household while the child might only be allowed to live with one parent for a certain amount of time. Single parent childbearing families face dependency among government support programs while the single parent may or may not be receiving child support that alone is not enough to remove the financial burden that single parents incur. Children often find this difficult having to move back and forth from two homes rather than having one home. Single parents who may later decide to marry often times face large scale problems as a result of becoming blended. This includes methods of parenting
Children of divorced parents may have a lower sense of psychological well-being than children who grew up with intact families the range of feelings that a child may encounter include: disbelief and denial, sadness, loss, loneliness, depression, anger, anxiety, fear, relief, and hope. Some children may experience long-lasting emotional effects into their adulthood that damage their ability to preserve relationships. The result of parental divorce shapes children emotionally and may impact self-esteem, future relationships, dating and marriage (Armando Loomis and Booth 895+)..
Children of divorce have a different experience during the holidays, birthdays, and other family events. The process of parental separation alone can pay a toll on a child’s psychological health. Family events may make things awkward around the parents, but that doesn’t even compare to the things children of divorce will have to deal with, even into their adult lives. Constance Matthienssen, author and mother of three, shares in her article “Harry Potter and Divorce Among the Muggles” how her divorce affected her children (“Harry Potter”). Many parents don’t think about a divorce will affect their young children as they grow older, but divorce affects children even into their adult lives. Children of divorce grow to develop negative relationships with their parents, they tend to have poor self-esteem, and they may even find themselves unable to maintain an intimate relationship in their adulthood. Divorce affects every child differently, but it can cause many social issues into their adult lives.
The first study to be considered is a qualitative study which spanned a 25 year period and looked at 131 children from divorced families of the 1970’s. It was specifically concerned with growth and development (psychologically and socially) of these children post divorce and had extensive follow-up interviews with both parents and children at 18 months, 5, 10 and 25 year marks. At the 25 year follow-up a comparison group of adult children from intact families who had otherwise similar backgrounds were also interviewed. Some of these “intact” families were ideal while others were filled with conflict, most were somewhere in the middle. This study found a casual relationship between divorce itself and the well-being of the children which was significant all the way into adulthood. The study found that parental conflicts from before the divorce were not dominant in the children’s memories but unhappiness was related mostly to the separation itself (most children in this study had no expectations of the breakup prior to it occurring). The exception to this is when violent events occurred as with 25% of c...
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.
Divorce is a very common word in today's society. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, "divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage or a complete or radical severance of closely connected things"(Pickett, 2000). This dissolution of marriage has increased very rapidly in the past fifty years. In 1950 the ratio of divorce to marriage was one in every four; in 1977 that statistic became one in two. Currently one in every two first marriages results in divorce. In second marriages that figure is considerably higher, with a 67% average (National Vital Statistics Report, 2001). One critical aspect of divorce is often not taken into consideration: How it affects children. Every year 1.1 million children are affected by divorce (Benjamin, 2000). Children from divorce or separation often exhibit behavioral and long-term adjustment problems (Kelly, 2000). Throughout this paper I will discuss divorces effects on children at different age levels, how they react, and what can be done to help them.
It is unfortunate that marriages sometimes end and there are children caught in the middle of the marriage but it may be worst for the parents to stay together simply for the children’s sake. However when parents do divorce the children are the most effected by the divorce. Often enough the divorce causes children to feel displaced and also to have feelings that their world is coming to an end. These children tend to grow into adults with either extreme emotional detachment and self-esteem issues or they will have strong family values and try to prevent the cycle from repeating itself but the majority of these children grow up suffering from the divorce.
One of the earliest noticeable negative effects of divorce is on children’s academic life. They are the ones who are strongly affected, because they might think it is their fault because of their parent’s divorce. In addition, they have to learn how to overcome and deal with their parent’s divorce at a very early age, which is very difficult because the child must get support to get through one of the most difficult situations in their lives. For example, Sara, my cousin, experienced her parent’s divorce at a very young age. Which led her to consider adapting to a new life change. Sara went through a lot of pressure, depression, and giving up on many things that she had when her parents were by her side. The divorce of her parents affected Sara’s academic life, day by day her grades decreased, because of lack of concentration and giving up on her life. After three...
(2009). The effects of divorce on children (Order No. 1470847). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Full Text. (304998358). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/304998358?accountid=458
Scientific American clarifies that, “In a 2002 study, psychologist E. Mavis Hetherington of the University of Virginia and her then graduate student Anne Mitchell Elmore found that many children experience short-term negative effects from divorce especially anxiety, anger, shock and disbelief.” (3) Some parents are so worried for their child’s welfare that they remain in unhappy marriages, believing it will protect their child from the trauma of divorce. In a 1985 study Hetherington and her associates reported that children who are exposed to high levels of marital discord before divorce adjust better than children who experience low levels. Studies show that only a relatively small percentage of children experience serious problems in the wake of divorce or later, as