Divorce has many effects on children and however the parents adjust to the divorce relates to how the child will adjust. Divorce can change negative effects on the development of a child. It can affect A child’s feelings, behaviors, emotions, communication skills, and health (Lewis, 1999) The effects can be long lasting into their adulthood. It is important that parents communicate and help their children on how to cope with a divorce. Divorce affects each member of the family which children experience it differently.
The effects of recent enlargement in divorce rates are negative effects. Most couples normally have children when they get married. As a result, divorces can directly have an effect on children. Children living in single parent families are more probably to get pregnant as teenagers, drop out of high school, abuse drugs and have aggressively emotional and behavioral problems, which lead to social problems. Some children decide to go out of their home when their parents separate from each other, and subsequently they become homeless children.
The Impact of Divorce on Children Tasha Hires PSYC 210-B10 Liberty University Abstract How do children react to divorce? In most recent times, the impact of divorce on children has emerged as a problem of concern. Divorce may be the most devastating situation that can happen to children. Studies have revealed that 50 percent of children under the age of 18 will experience the dissolution of their parent’s marriage. Divorce affects children both mentally and physically, and is also based on the child’s age, personality and gender.
IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN Impact of Divorce on Children Rebbecca Jackson Student #25417435 Prof. Kristi Starnes PSYC 210-B16 Abstract The decision to divorce carries a great burden upon the hearts of the adults involved. The focus on the separation of two adults can seemingly take center stage as the process is worked through. Often overlooked is the impact it has upon the smallest sufferers of the decision- the children. Many factors including age and resiliency can explain why not all children experience divorce in the same way. The effects of divorce can vary greatly depending on numerous factors including age and resiliency factors.
Most kids do not want their parents to divorce. A bad marriage can become worse when kids are involved, especially during a divorce. Kids are always the people in the middle watching and listening even from a distance. The children in a bad divorce case are asked to choose a side if not one would be chosen for them. Some kids feel betrayed by their separated parents.
Children whose parents have been arrested and incarcerated face unique difficulties. Many have experienced the trauma of sudden separation from their sole caregiver, and most are vulnerable to feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, depression and guilt. They may be moved from caretaker to caretaker. The behavioral consequences can be severe, absent positive intervention,
For this reason, dysfunctional families are more likely to bring up a future juvenile delinquent. The rise in general and violent crime parallels the rise in dysfunctional families. Families are thought to be dysfunctional when misbehavior, conflict, and regular abuse from individual members occur on a constant basis, and are leading other family members to allow such actions to continue on. Children often grow up in these families with the understanding that such a layout is normal, for it is all they have known. Dysfunctional families are often a result of single parent adults, that may also be affected by addictions, such as substance abuse.
Effect of Divorce on Children Under the Age of 18 Sarah Jones (Lawrence) Liberty University Abstract Divorce has become a common occurrence in the lives of many families, including those families with children under the age of 18. Approximately 50% of all marriages end in divorce and half of those include children under the age of 18. The emotional impact of divorce on children can be broken down into four primary age groups: Infants, pre-school aged children, school-aged children, and adolescents. Each age group will exhibit negative emotional reactions to divorce however the reactions may vary based on age bracket. Regardless of age, the emotional impact of children will differ between boys and girls.
The paper therefore examines the overall effects of divorce among children of different age. Zero to Three Years Children during the age of zero to three years face psychological issues when their parents’ divorce. Parents often think that infants are less or never affected by divorce yet the infants still possess the capability of feeling tension that is found in the home despite failing to understand the reasoning leading to the conflict. Once a child is born, the child requires security that mostly results from their primary caretaker that is usually the mother. Keeping the child away from the primary caretaker for periods longer than usual often makes the young child mourn.
Parental mental illness can have a negative effect on the parent / child relationship and child development, especially where there is little external support. Children with parents who had mental illness had a higher likelihood of child neglect and this was a considerable risk factor in their safety and welfare. There are difficulties when multiple agencies are involved with a family and problems with communication and information sharing is a challenge. Contents Introduction page 3 Study design page 4 Critical discussion page 5 Conclusion page 12