The Effects of Divorce on Children
argumentative Essay
2257 words
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.
Increasing divorce rate:
During the 1960s and 1980s in the USA, there were signi...
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...d become more successful.
Works Cited
Hetherington, E. Mavis, and Margaret Stanley-Hagan. "The Adjustment of Children with Divorced Parents: A Risk and Resiliency Perspective." Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines 40, no. 1 (January 1999): 129. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2011).
Sobolewski, Juliana M., and Paul R. Amato. 2007. "Parents' Discord and Divorce, Parent-Child Relationships and Subjective Well-Being in Early Adulthood: Is Feeling Close to Two Parents Always Better than Feeling Close to One?." Social Forces 85, no. 3: 1105-1124. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2011).
Shansky, Janet. 2002. "NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT." Journal of Pastoral Counseling 37, 73. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2011).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce affects children's well-being worldwide and radically changes their future causing detrimental effects. the essay will show the effects of divorce on children under various aspects such as educational, psychological and social impact.
- Explains that in the 1960s and 1980s, there were significant modifications in divorce legislation, which has contributed to immense variations.
- Explains that children of different ages react in different ways after separation of parents. they are concerned about their life without one of the parents, routines, and living place.
- Explains that divorce affects children's relationships, stating that closeness to both parents contributes to optimal outcomes. however, as the divorce rate increases, single-parent families grow.
- Compares the effects of divorce on children, based on their age, gender, and attitude. girls and boys react differently to divorce.
- Opines that parents should be prepared for lengthy, long conversations with children about their divorce. exact and transparent decision helps children be aware of necessity (deprivation) and avoid conflicts in the presence of children.
- Opines that the conversations should be focused on children. many children experience grief (misery, suffering, pain) of their parents' divorce, but it is essential to explain (clarify).
- Explains that divorce has an extensive educational impact on children. children from divorced families tend to be less successful in academic achievements and less purposeful than children from intact families.
- Analyzes how divorce negatively affects children's academic performance. emery states that 78% of children from divorced families got lower than 50%, while only 30% from intact families failed their exams.
- Concludes that divorce has an effect on offspring's life in various aspects. it causes emotional, psychological, and behavioral problems.
- Explains hetherington, e. mavis, and stanley-hagan, "the adjustment of children with divorced parents: a risk and resilience perspective."
- Analyzes sobolewski, juliana m., and paul r. amato's article, parent-child relationships and subjective well-being in early adulthood.
- States shansky, janet, "negative effects of divorce on child and adolescent psychosocial adjustment".
Related
- analytical
- explanatory
- opinionated
- Divorce and Its Effect On Childrenanalytical essayI. Introdution Divorce is a heavy concept that has many implications for those involved. The situation becomes even more consequential when children are considered. As divorce has become more commonplace in society, millions of children are affected by the separation of the nuclear family. How far-reaching are these effects? And is there a time when divorce is beneficial to the lives of the children?
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is a heavy concept that has many implications for those involved. the situation becomes even more consequential when children are considered.
- Opines that divorce increases the risk for psychosocial developmental problems in children and potentially as adults, but also stress and conflict within an intact family environment.
- Explains that a qualitative study looked at 131 children from divorced families of the 1970's. the study found that parental conflicts were not dominant in the children’s memories but unhappiness was related to the separation itself.
- Analyzes how booth and amato's study suggests that highly conflicted marriages do not provide benefits to children.
- Cites booth, a., & amato, p. r. (2001). parents' discord and divorce, parent-child relationships and subjective well-being in early adulthood.
1490 wordsRead More - How Divorce Affects Childrenexplanatory essayDivorces in the United States are often only thought about from a single perspective, that being the two spouses involved. However, children are severely affected by the aftermath of divorces probably even more so than the parents, especially on the long-term basis. About one third of children experience this fallout, and of those divorces only a third claim to have done all they could to save their marriages (Holst). Based on middle-class cultural norms in modern society, both the psychological and physical effects on children from parental separation constitute many factors during and after the divorce.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the adjustment process after separation depends on the relationship between parents prior to divorce, the ages of the children, whether or not siblings are present, and how often they will see each parent.
- Explains that the long-term scope of divorce for children depends largely on how the parents deal with the process, especially after they are distinctly living two separate lives.
- Explains that as a child of divorce, they were able to relate on these realms of severe emotional upset. they had no one to revel with in the anxiety, loneliness, and need to belong.
- Opines that their divorce doesn't define them because they believe we're too complex to be comprised of a single event. their long-term moral views have changed slightly, but they gained more confidence to take on the world.
- Explains that children are severely affected by the aftermath of divorces in the united states, especially on the long-term basis.
757 wordsRead More - Divorce’s Effects on Childrenexplanatory essayThe dramatic rise in the rate of divorce in the United States between 1960 and 1980 is well known, and even more so are the high divorce rates over the past twenty years. In 1970, twelve percent of American families with children under age eighteen were headed by single parents, and by 1984, one-fourth of American families and nearly sixty percent of black families were headed by single parents (Demo & Acock, 1988, p. 619). These high divorce rates have resulted in numerous changes in American family life. While predictions vary, the consensus is that most youth will spend some time prior to age eighteen in a single-parent household based on recent social and demographic trends. Individuals with divorced parents are at increased risk of experiencing psychological problems in adulthood (Amato & Sobolewski, 2001, p. 900). Growing up divorced has become an alternative developmental path for a substantial number of children in this country (Kalter, 1987, p. 587). These trends in family composition have major repercussions for the life course of children and their well-being. Studies have shown that adults with divorced parents, when compared with adults with continuously married parents, report to greater unhappiness, less satisfaction with life, a weaker sense of control, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, and a greater use of mental health services. Overall, most children of divorced parents have experienced dramatic declines in their economic circumstances, abandonment by one or both of their parents, the diminished capacity of both parents to attend meaningfully and constructively to their children’s needs, and diminished contact with many familiar or potential sources of psychological support.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the dramatic rise in divorce rates in the united states between 1960 and 1980, which has resulted in numerous changes in american family life.
- Explains that marital dissolution is a process that begins before physical separation and generally continues after the marriage is legally ended.
- Explains that parental divorce is associated with lower socioeconomic status in adulthood. education and income both promote psychological well-being.
- Explains that parental divorce negatively affects the quality and stability of children's intimate relationships in adulthood as evidence from amato and sobolewski.
- Explains that parental divorce is associated with relatively weak parent-child ties in adulthood.
- Opines that the tendency of children in single-parent families to display more androgynous behavior may be interpreted as a beneficial effect.
- Explains that parental divorce involves a series of stressful interactions between children and their environment as the family restructures following parental separation. understanding their differential effects is an important research issue.
- Explains amato, p. r., and sobolewski, j. m. the effects of divorce and marital discord on adulthood.
- Cites demo, d. h., and acock, a. c. on the impact of divorce on children.
- Explains lamb, m. e., sternberg, k. j. & thompson, r. a. the effects of divorce and custody
- Explains sandler, i. n., tein, j. y. and west, s. g. coping, stress, and psychological symptoms.
- Cites wallerstein, j. s., the long-term effects of divorce on children: a review.
1584 wordsRead More - Effects of Divorce on a Childexplanatory essayDivorce 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is a common word in today's society. it is the legal dissolution of marriage or severance of closely connected things.
- Explains that divorce can have a major impact on children at any age. stress is dependent on the situation before the divorce.
- Explains that divorce affects young children differently than older children. karen debord, a child development specialist, states there are different stages in childhood.
- Explains that adolescents are affected by divorce in a different way. they may feel angry and disillusioned, abandoned by the absent parent, show extreme emotions, and/or feel that they have to grow up sooner.
- Explains the american heritage dictionary of the english language and the impact of divorce on children.
- Cites debord, k., kelly, j.b. and shepard. court-affiliated educational programs for kids of divorce, separation.
1448 wordsRead More - The Impact of Parental Divorce on a Childanalytical essayThe Impact of Parental Divorce on a Child Divorce has increased dramatically since the beginning of this century. Unfortunately, the probability that a marriage will today end in a divorce is a whopping 50 percent. Also, the average duration of a marriage has decreased from 17 years in 1971 to just over 9 years in 1990 (Halonen & Santrock, 1997).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the impact of parental divorce on a child divorce has increased dramatically since the beginning of this century.
- Argues that divorce is one of the most severe psychological stressors for children.
- Opines that family structure is only one of the many factors that influence children's adjustment.
- Explains halonen & santrock's claim that the best approach for evaluating effects on children is one which advocates assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the child prior to the divorce.
- Explains that they chose to focus this paper on the impact of parental divorce on a child. they interviewed 20-year-old ann to better understand the adjustment process.
- Explains that ann's father was the dominant parental figure with her mother being submissive to him. every rule was to be followed precisely, without exceptions.
- Analyzes how ann's father became abusive towards his wife and stricter on his children. the children were united for they now had the additional duty of trying to protect their mother.
- Narrates how ann's mother filed for divorce when she was nine years old in an attempt to provide a more preferable environment for her impressionable children.
- Narrates how they spent several months residing with different relatives until the family could find another permanent home. they remember feeling sad and isolated, which ruled out the possibility of establishing close relationships.
- Analyzes ann's feelings of inferiority and depression throughout the interview. she admits being needy and feeling deprived of a "normal" family life.
- Opines that ann has identified with her low self-esteem but feels there is not much she can do to improve it. dr. gold claims that girls internalize problems of divorce which seems exactly the case for ann.
- Analyzes how ann experienced difficulties in social relationships in the first few years following the divorce discussed by dr. gold. she accepted that she didn't develop normal communication skills because of her extraordinary situation.
- Analyzes how ann's divorce was a major change in parenting techniques. she switched from strict rule under her father to permissive-indulgent parenting style.
- Narrates how they were surprised when they asked ann to distinguish between her life at home prior to and post separation.
- Analyzes how she feels she may have attended college under the controlling rule, something which she has no intention of doing.
- Analyzes how ann's interviewee attended a catholic school from kindergarten to junior high. she had close relationships with her teachers and believes they were positive role models for her.
- Describes how ann's life was disrupted when she left her small school to attend a public high school with over 3000 students. she experienced depression and loneliness associated with the top dog phenomenon.
- Analyzes how ann's loneliness led to a tremendous decrease in her self-esteem, which has taken her much effort to improve, even if only slightly.
- Opines that dr. gold makes some important points, which are relevant to ann's case. she states that there are long-term and lasting effects in the nonclinic population of divorced children.
- Opines that ann has not seen or heard from her father since a few months after the divorce, eleven years ago. she blames him entirely.
- Analyzes how ann's cynicism towards love and trust is not in her vocabulary. she believes that once someone takes advantage of your trust they will continue to do so repeatedly.
- Analyzes how carl rogers states that the greater the discrepancy between the real and ideal self the more.
- Agrees with the statement that ann believes everything she portrays is negative. she repeatedly compares herself to her friends, herself being the inadequate one.
- Analyzes how ann dislikes her physical appearance. she can't accept flattery because she has little self worth and low self esteem.
- Opines that ann's problems are not due to her parents' divorce, but her case does relate to researched effects of divorce on children.
- Opines that a major hurdle for ann was the complete loss of her relationship with her father. dr. gold states that contact between the noncustodial parent and the child is critical to the future.
- Opines that ann's goals are to feel better about herself and improve her outlook on her world.
1627 wordsRead More - Custodial Parents Essayexplanatory essayThe effects of divorce can be short or long term. Divorce is a stressful process for children at all ages and developmental stages. Although this process is not ideal for any child to experience individuals are able to live healthy lives. This paper will discuss the progression of relationships with the custodial and non-custodial parent, it will also discuss the possible psychological implications that children will face, the economic and educational effects, and the social and spiritual aspects.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce can have a profound effect on social and spiritual development of children. divorce can affect how older children form and maintain intimate relationships.
- Explains that divorce affects many aspects of children's lives even as they progress into adulthood.
- Explains that young children are easily confused and don't understand the divorce process. the custodial parent is responsible for maintaining the visitation and financial agreement established by the judge.
- Explains that divorce is a stressful process for children at all ages and developmental stages. it is important to maintain as much normalcy for the children involved as possible.
- Explains that children who experience parental divorce report lower psychological well-being than children from intact families even in adulthood. divorce has effects on economics and educational attainment.
1686 wordsRead More - Mandatory Classes for Children of Divorceopinionated essayThe purpose of this proposal of children in divorce is to show the effect that divorce places on th...
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how a 7-year-old girl was watching cartoons with her brother while their parents were showering, and when his sister heard him making strange sounds, she discovered that he had taken his own life by hanging him from the refrigerator.
- Opines that children are the loser in a divorce, so ensuring they know that they are not the cause of the divorce is important.
- Explains the importance of a divorce education program for parents and children.
- Opines that enforcing court-mandated counseling or classes for children and parents together is the best way to establish the relationship between one and another.
- Argues that initiation of court-mandated therapy or training would emphasize the importance of protecting children to forefront of the minds of parents, legal authorities, those considering divorce.
- Opines that we need to act today for a better tomorrow for children around the world.
- Opines that a mandatory parent/children class should be implemented instead of just the legal proceedings between parents to ensure children understand and cope with situation.
- Opines that the slogan never leave a child behind does not affect only the education of child but also the mental stability of the child.
- Cites eriksson, sandler, tein, corcoran, and meyer, c. (2013, september 5). how to find the right marriage counselor
1760 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 - 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 - The Effects Of Divorce On Childrenexplanatory essayIntroduction Many couples face that difficult decision about whether divorce would be the answer to their problems. Divorce is at a very high rate today and many more people are using this method to walk away from a marriage. When divorce is the only option then its repercussion can have a devastating effect not only on the parents but on the children. It is the children that must suffer because of the parent’s mistakes.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that divorce is at a very high rate today and many more people are using this method to walk away from marriage.
- Explains that divorce causes a dramatic change in the child's life. in single-family homes, the finances are limited, making it difficult for the parent to afford quality education for their child.
- Explains that many children beginning school are in the process or have passed the episode of divorced parents. elementary school aged children tend to have problems in academic achievement, withdrawal, dependency, and hostility.
- Explains that children can understand divorce and that one parent doesn't live in the home anymore. depression and anxiety are two main symptoms that can cause other developmental issues.
- Explains that children's perception of their parents is amazing. they look at how they are treated when they seek attention. this can impact their self-esteem and social interaction in adulthood.
- Opines that parents should be aware of their own emotions and be able to have some control over it. if they are unable to handle it then those emotions can dictate their actions.
- Opines parents should be able to pay close attention to the emotional and developmental stages of their children when a divorce is happening within the family.
- Explains that divorce was allowed in the old testament, but it was not god's will.
1151 wordsRead More