Effects of Divorce: Larger Than They Seem

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Effects of Divorce: Larger Than They Seem

Introduction

Imagine a teenage boy, completely happy with a good life and a family that he is close to. He has his own place in the family and a set daily routine that has been in place for over a decade. Now imagine something ripping that family apart. His daily life became anything but routine. Everything changed: his living arrangements, his family’s financial situation, and his security. In America, we call that divorce. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, “One out of every two marriages today ends in divorce and many divorcing families include children.” “Only 42 percent of children aged 14 to 18 live in a “first marriage” family and intact two-parent married family” (The Effects of Divorce on America). Throughout this report the effects of divorce of children of various ages will be discussed. There will also be explanations of how everyone in the family feels their own form of blame, stress, anger, adjustment, and the psychological and emotional aspects of divorce. What are the effects of divorce on children?

Body

According to the University of New Hampshire, “Sociologists and Psychologists are just beginning to provide reliable information about the effects of divorce on children.” There are many factors to consider such as the age of the child at the time of the divorce, the gender of the child, the child’s personality, the amount of support from the extended family, and the way in which the parents handle their personal conflicts. The degrees to which children are affected by divorce vary in many ways. Age at the time of divorce is one factor that seems to determine how much of an effect the divorce has on the life of a child. For instance, an...

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...oking at Divorce-Through the Eyes of a Child.” 24 Mar 2010. .

Fagan, Patrick, and Robert Rector. “This is a Backgrounder on Family and Marriage.” The Effects of Divorce on America. 5 June 2010. 23 Mar 2010. .

Teens Health. “Stress.” 9 Apr 2010.< http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/stress.html>.

Corcoran, Kathleen O’Connell. “Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Divorce.” 8 Apr 2010. .

Leon, Kim, and Kelly Cole. “Helping Children Understand Divorce.” 23 Mar 2010. .

“Emotional Effects of Divorce on Children.” 23 Mar 2010. .

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