Effects of Divorce: Larger Than They Seem
explanatory Essay
2508 words
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. .
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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. .
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the american academy of child & adolescent psychiatry states that one out of every two marriages today ends in divorce.
- Explains that sociologists and psychologists are just beginning to provide reliable information about the effects of divorce on children.
- Explains that children at this age can become combative or angry and show signs of depression despite their young age. divorce has positive and negative effects on children.
- Explains the emotional effects of divorce on children, including fear of what will happen next, if they will have enough money, or fear that mom and dad stopped loving them.
- Opines that children of divorced parents learn how to be in a relationship by their relationships with their parents.
- Explains that many children speak out when they are comfortable enough to reveal their feelings to the parent regarding divorce. studies show that girls and boys suffer equally.
- Explains that girls are more able to engage in multi-task behavior, use both sides of the brain when processing information, hear better, and are physically active. boys are externally symptomatic, while girls internalize their feelings which may lead to depression, headaches and stomach aches.
- Explains that a child's understanding of divorce depends on their developmental age. infants may feel more irritable and cry or fuss, while toddlers might return to baby-like behaviors. preteens and teens may have difficulty accepting the reality of the changes it brings to their family.
- Explains that 50 percent of all children are children of divorce. divorce court may set up visitation rights to determine the amount of contact with each parent.
- Explains that divorce has a negative effect on all individuals involved, even the one initiating the divorce. the way the parties involved handle the situation affects the children not only at the time of divorce but for years to come.
- Explains that stress can affect anyone who feels overwhelmed including children. it is created when we react to particular events.
- Explains lewis, jennifer, and william sammons' "looking at divorce-through the eyes of a child."
Related
- explanatory
- opinionated
- analytical
- Negative Effects On Divorceexplanatory essayDivorce Effects Divorce is not only a change in lifestyle or relationship for two adults, but also the children that may be involved experience changes. Their lifestyle and their relationship with their parents also change. A child’s lifestyle and relationship with his or her parents could be damaged resulting from the decision of their parent’s divorce. Children of different ages may react differently to the decision of his or her parent’s separation. Children’s behavior may vary at the time of their age and custody decisions.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is a change in lifestyle or relationship for two adults, but also the children that may be involved experience changes. a child's lifestyle and relationship with their parents could be damaged resulting from the decision of their parent’s separation.
- Explains that all ages can be effected by divorce differently. older children are more likely to understand the divorce better than younger children.
- Explains that children from divorced families tend to do better in school because of the support received at home from the parents, while children with one parent in the home receive less support leading to poor performance.
- Explains that children from divorced parents often develop behavioral problems from the emotional stress of the divorce.
- Explains that children going through divorce become less social, distrustful, distant and unsociable, and lack of trust even with their peers.
- Explains that joint custody makes it easier for the child and the parents to choose which parent they want to live with or stay with on weekends. once the divorce is final, the children will have to make adjustments to where they will stay.
- Explains that the most frequently applied custody guideline is the "best interests of the child" standard, which takes into account the parents' preferences, interactions between parents and children, children's adjustment, and all family members' mental and physical health.
- Explains that sole custody makes it harder for the parents to agree and much harder to adjust.
- Opines that the children deserve to have time to adjust to the decision of separation between biological parents and get to know them before any drastic changes.
- Explains that the child and the step-parent need to know that you’re there for them and that they come first. if the new member has children, they need time to interact with each other.
- Explains that divorce is a change in lifestyle or relationship for the two parents, but also the children involved. the child needs attention and emotional support more than ever through this process.
1755 wordsRead More - Divorce has Major and Long-Lasting Effects on Childrenopinionated essayAlthough a couple’s marriage vows usually include the phrase “Till death do us part”’, about half of all first marriages in the United States end in divorce {“Divorce” par.1). The United States has the highest rate of divorce in the modern world, it is estimated that 25% of adults in this country between ages 18 and 44 are products of divorce (“Divorce” par. 1). It is not just the couples that are affected by divorce but everyone around them as well. Something must be done now to decrease the poverty and its negative effects on children created by divorce.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the united states has the highest rate of divorce in the modern world.
- Explains that divorce affects children's emotional and social lives, reducing their academic achievements, self-esteem, and unemployment rates.
- Explains that divorce destroys wealth dramatically for both sexes and in some cases lead to poverty. it also affects the children involved in the process.
- Suggests giving troubled marriages a second chance, since divorces could be prevented much more often than society tends to believe possible. marriage counseling can make thoughtful decisions about rebuilding your relationship or going your separate ways.
- Explains that great marriages are about being fully committed and connection with your partner. true love comes easy once committed to each other.
- Explains that mandatory premarital counseling can prevent divorce. it can help to work out any potential problems that may arise during or before the marriage starts and it will teach communication and conflict resolution skills.
600 wordsRead More - The Main Effects of Divorce on Adolescentsopinionated essayDivorce is not a word many people like to use in casual conversation. It has a derogatory connotation that just leaves a lingering feeling of sadness hanging in the air. Although I grant that there are times when there is nothing left to do but move on in a relationship, I still maintain that a marriage is meant to be for life and it’s not something that should be given up on lightly. “Fifty percent of first marriages, sixty seven percent of second marriages and seventy four of third marriages end in divorce (Baker, 2011.)” That statistic is staggering. Recent studies state that there are three main contributors to the rise in the American divorce rate. They include young age, education, and income. The effects of divorce on children can be detrimental to their development and sense of self, especially during their crucial adolescent years. “Basically, divorce tends to intensify the child’s dependence and it tends to accelerate the adolescent’s independence; it often elicits a more regressive response in the child and more aggressive response in the adolescent (Pickhardt, 2011)” Mr. Pickard acknowledges that children and adolescents respond differently to the ending of a marriage. The three main effects of divorce on adolescents are separation, differentiation, and opposition. Because half of all marriages are likely to end in divorce, parents with adolescents should think clearly before choosing to separate. In order to ensure that they are not placing added stress onto their kids during one of their most hectic stages of life.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that it's common today to dismiss the idea of good old fashioned courtship — if an individual waits two more crucial years to get married, their likelihood of divorce would drop tremendously.
- Argues that education plays a major role in the likely hood of divorce.
- Opines that economic stability is an obvious goal in terms of a marriage. however, the link between american divorce and income reveals that less educated, potentially lower-income people enter marriage more out of financial necessity than actual compatibility.
- Analyzes the effects of divorce on adolescents, and explains the higher divorce rate of adults who come from divorced families.
- Opines that children from divorced families are more likely to have emotional, social, and academic problems than those from married families.
- Analyzes how adolescents facing divorce develop a sense of opposition to parental authority because they are determined to get their own way. divorce affects the way children view the boundaries of the relationship they harbor with their parents.
- Opines that divorce should be a last resort because of the effects it can have on children. half of all marriages in the united states end in divorce.
- Explains that divorce rate, education conversely related; protection varies by race, study shows. the huffington post.
- Explains dr. phil.com's advice on marriage and divorce: the statistics.
- Explains that low-income couples are more likely to divorce, but why?
- Explains pickhardt's the impact of divorce on young children and adolescents. psychology today.
- Explains sonoma county medical association's website: www.scma.org/magazine/articles/
- Opines that divorce has a derogatory connotation that leaves lingering feelings of sadness hanging in the air.
1578 wordsRead More - Effect of Divorce on Children: What About The Kids? by Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blakesleeanalytical essayWhile divorce gives parents a novel opportunity to begin a new life, it leads to an unfortunate twist in lifestyle for the children. In “What About The Kids? Raising Your Children Before, During, and After Divorce” Judith S. Wallerstein, Ph.D., a psychologist who spent 25 years of her life studying the effects of divorce on children, and Sandra Blakeslee, a scientist writer who has spent nearly all of her profession writing for New York Times, wrote, “Each decision to divorce begins a long journey that holds surprising, unexpected turns.”. Divorce leads to many unforeseen negative consequences for the children involved. Some frequent symptoms such as, anxiety, depression, guilt and grief emerge in the children’s behavior.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how divorce leads to an unfortunate twist in lifestyle for children. judith wallerstein, ph.d., and sandra blakeslee, a scientist writer, have written about the negative consequences of divorce.
- Explains that separation anxiety is a broad name for numerous disorders that involve nervous fear, and worrying. children have nightmares about their parent's separation, fearing to be left unaccompanied at some point.
- Explains that children become alienated towards a parent when he/she is constantly fighting against the other parent after separation. depression causes children to stop socializing with friends and spend time with family.
- Explains wallerstein, ph.d., a psychologist who spent 25 years studying the effects of divorce on children.
- Explains that some children feel devastated having to live with a single parent after divorce, resulting in grieving process regardless of their parent's existence.
- Explains that divorce is a difficult challenge for parents, but it is even more difficult for children who are full of innocence and sincerity. the effects children experience, such as anxiety, depression, guilt and grief, are some ways in which they express their feelings towards separation.
- Cites works by judith wellerstein, sandra blakeslee, philip stahl, barry youngerman, mark j. kittleson, and gary neuman.
924 wordsRead More - Children Essay: The Effects Of Divorce On Childrenexplanatory essay“It is also estimated that between 40 percent and 50 percent of children born in the 1980s will experience the divorce of their parents before reaching age 18 (The influence of divorce on children).” These children of divorce have to go through the financial struggles of living pay check to pay check and live through this stress. All this stress leads to less focus on school and they begin to see lower academic achievement. This transition also effects them emotional and can even stick with them the rest of their life, ultimately impacting their own marriage in the future. With little attention left for them they turn to other activities for attention, including drugs and alcohol. Although some children come out of divorce a stronger individual, some go down the wrong path and see the negative side effects of
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is a common transition in many families and has begun to become the standard of living in marriages.
- Explains that after a couple divorces, they each have to create new households, normally on their own, both physically and financially.
- Explains that after divorce, each separate parent will have financial stress due to a decrease in income from their spouse. while some cut corners and save money, others have to work more and pick up an extra job.
- Analyzes how divorce affects women more drastically than men. women have less money to help keep their children afloat, while men pay child support. higher-income families suffer the most substantial decline in income.
- Explains that parents have less time to stress to their children the importance of school and keep up with how they are doing in school. this makes the children care less about their educational goals in life.
- Explains that divorce has emotional and behavioral problems on children, stating that only 25% of children have long-term problems due to divorce.
- Explains that children begin to experience stress and problems when they first notice that their parents are fighting and they know that it is possible that they could separate and get a divorce. researchers believe that joint custody is the best way for children to keep healthy relationships.
- Explains that children who have the most long-term effects personally saw conflicts between their parents. the bigger and more drastic these fights are, the higher chance of problems including depression and acting out.
- Explains that researchers believe that children involved in divorce as a child will follow in their parents footsteps and end their own marriage by divorce.
- Explains that with parents working more hours and spending less time with their kids, children turn to other activities to find the needed attention.
- Explains that divorce rates have been steadily decreasing over the past years, but many children still have to go through the horrid experience of seeing their parents separate.
1446 wordsRead More - The Impact Of Parental Divorce On Emerging Adultsanalytical essayThe topic of divorce sparked my interest as it has become a common process among American people and keeps increasing since the past few decades. Divorce not only breaks up a family but also affects children negatively. Children in the stages of early childhood development are mainly vulnerable since they are in a stage where they learn and change rapidly. According to an online article entitled, “The Impact of Parental Divorce on Emerging Adults’ Self-Esteem,” it is stated that “More than one million young children under the age of eighteen experience parental divorce every year,” and the consequences of this affect children’s “psychological adjustment, behavior, social ability, self-esteem, and academic achievement” (Block). These impacts
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is a common process among american people and affects children negatively.
- Analyzes the impact of divorce on young children and adolescents, stating that divorce agitates trust in dependency on parents, making them behave in an undependable way.
- Explains that divorce is a confusing and stressful situation for infants and toddlers, as they are affected by changes in their parents' behavior and feelings.
- Opines that divorce can cause emotional trauma in children, as egocentric children may blame themselves for the divorce, while a six- to eight-year-old child may fanaticize about reuniting his parents.
1248 wordsRead More - Long Term Effects Of Divorce On Childrenexplanatory essayThe idea of divorce is a gruesome experience, not only for the parents but more for the child. As marriages fall apart, children are deeply affected in traumatizing ways depending on how bad the relationship is, and how young the child is. Children who have experienced their parents getting a divorce often develop a low self-esteem, social difficulties, and resentment towards their parents as they grow older. When parents go through a divorce, the kids often feel like they are to blame, ultimately lowering their self-esteem. While this mostly occurs when they are young, it “can be long lasting…, if not addressed” (“Long Term Effects of Divorce on Children”). Therefore, their view on the world changes as they feel like they will never be able
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is a gruesome experience for both parents and children, as they are traumatized by the loss of self-esteem and social difficulties.
326 wordsRead More - Positive Effects Of Divorce On Childrenexplanatory essayDivorce is never an easy subject. Two parent's decide it's time to call it quits and there are children involved. When it comes to divorce, children's lives are impacted. Now the children are faced with life changes and dealing with the unknown. Divorce is frowned upon yet in the United States alone, 43-50 % of marriages end in divorce (Lansford, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to show the two sides to divorce, the negative and positive effects. Though the research shows some children don't adjust well to divorce, not all children suffer negatively from it. This paper will demonstrate the positive outcomes divorce can have on children and how the outcomes to divorce aren't always detrimental to a child's adjustment and well-being.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is frowned upon in the united states, yet 43-50 % of marriages end in divorce. this paper will demonstrate the positive outcomes divorce can have on children.
- Explains that children have a hard time adjusting to their parents divorce due to many factors such as the inability to cope with it and blaming oneself for it.
- Explains how moderators play a factor in how divorce affects children and can heighten or lessen it. children with positive attributes like temperament and social competence are more resilient to divorce.
- Explains how mediators explain how divorce affects children: income, well-being of parenting, interparental conflict, and parenting.
- Explains that interparental conflict is important because it sets the tone of how two parents can co-parent, how a parent handles the divorce, and how they adjust to less income.
- Explains that long-term effects of divorce include social, emotional, and/or psychological problems as individuals enter adulthood, compared to 10% whose parents are still married.
- Explains that while divorce may be hard in the beginning, it doesn't mean that it always means negative outcomes. divorce allows children to escape the mess of high-conflict marriages.
- Explains that parents sharing joint custody creates the opportunity for both parents to remain a good relationship with their child.
- Explains vanassche et al.'s view that joint physical custody has a positive effect on children because both parents have greater involvement with their children.
- Explains that divorce can take on different positive contexts. divorce isn't just an event, it's a process too.
- Explains that divorce can be a fresh start for parents and children, but it doesn't have to be negative if embraced properly.
- Explains that different developmental areas that children are in during divorce and marriage, can help give a clearer picture of why divorce impacts children differently.
1893 wordsRead More - Parental Divorce Paperexplanatory essayFirst and foremost, it is important to remember that age is not a safeguard against the effects experienced by children. Nearly all children and adolescents, regardless of age, react to and are affected by parental divorce (Oppawsky 2). Although infants and toddlers may seem too young to understand what is happening during a divorce, they can still be affected by it. During their first three years of life, children grow quickly, become mobile, learn language, begin to understand how the world works and form social relationships (Hunter and Trussell 1). At these ages, parental divorce comes at a time where consistency is critical and a large amount of childhood development occurs, so it’s important for the divorcing parents to be conscientious
In this essay, the author
- Explains that age is not a safeguard against the effects experienced by children. children from birth to three years of age are subjected to symptoms like screams, crying, and separation anxiety.
- Explains that children are vulnerable between kindergarten and primary school because they haven't fully developed cognitively enough to understand the reasons for their parents' separation, thus taking the blame on themselves.
385 wordsRead More - Does Divorce Negatively Affects Childrenanalytical essayDivorce negatively effects children on many aspects. Children with divorced parents lead a more stressful life, therefore they have a hard time adjusting to interrupted routines and staying motivated. The dependence of children on both parents, results in a loss of guidance and support, that leaves a traumatizing psychological impact on the children due to the destructive environment. Children also face problems maintaining long term relationships, because they develop doubts about love and harmony. Divorce causes emotional and psychologic challenges in a child’s life, which leads in difficulty facing reality.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how divorce negatively affects children on many aspects, such as a stressful life, loss of guidance and support, doubts about love and harmony, and emotional and psychologic challenges.
90 wordsRead More