Divorce: the Effects on Children

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Abstract Divorce affects millions of children each year. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issues that children under the age of 18 face when their parents are going through a divorce. Not only are the parents affected but the children often suffer worse. They often have a difficult time adjusting when the family splits and a parent leaves the home. Some of the ways they are affected are: psychologically, socially, many have behavior problems, financially and academically. It can be a very traumatic experience for a child whose parents are constantly fighting and arguing in front of the child. Children often blame themselves when their parents’ divorce; they feel like it’s their fault. It is very important for both parents to maintain the same relationship they had with their child before the marriage ended. Children need to feel secure in knowing that just because their parents are no longer married that they still love them the same and nothing will ever change their relationship. Divorce and separation are becoming normal in today’s society. People are divorcing and remarrying today as if it were a sport, it’s almost as if they don’t want to work hard enough to save the marriage. According to the 2005 U.S. Census, 1 out of 5 adults have been divorced (Mitcham-Smith & Henry, 2007). Next to being a parent, marriage is one of the hardest jobs an adult will have. Sadly, innocent children are the victims of their parent’s decision to end the marriage. Children under the age of 18 account for slightly more than half of all children affected by divorce (Mitcham-Smith & Henry, 2007). At times the children are affected more by the divorce than either of their parents realize. Some of the more common ways they are affected are: psychologically, socially, many have behavior problems, financially and academically. Children of
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