Divorce Essay

Divorce is comparable to an epidemic since it has been filtering through many societies at an increasingly alarming rate. According to the most current statistic, there are more than 2.1 million marriages in the United States (“Children of Divorced Parents”). Out of those, almost half end in divorce. Divorce nowadays is extremely common. In fact, in America there is one divorce every thirty-six seconds (National Marriage and Divorce Rate Trends”). Each year over a million American children suffer from the divorce of their parents (Amato 24-26). Even though it might be shown to benefit some individuals in their own personal case, for the majority it causes a decrease in an individual’s life and puts many people “on a downward trajectory from which they might never fully recover” (Amato). Over long term, the United States divorce rate has been on a rise since 1980, which means more children being affected (Macionis). These children that are affected are faced by emotions of anger, confusion and even fear. These emotions affect their academic performance, social interactions, behavior, self-esteem and other negative effects. This literature review is important in calling attention on the current research studying impacts of divorce on children. The topic of divorce is a wide-ranging topic. However, this particular literature review focuses only on the effects that divorce has on children. The data presented in this paper is collected from

According to the Encyclopedia of Psychology, one half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. With these one million children are affected each year. Eighty five percent of these children live in single parent households, with the mother being the head of the house. The father is usually distant or does not speak to the children at all. These children are highly affected and experience a great deal of emotional and academic problems. Especially when you compare them to children with non-divorced parents. During adolescence, these children have twice as high as a rate of dropping out of high school, having teenage pregnancy, and experiencing deliquiate behavior. I am not a child of divorce, but a child dear to me is. I have seen firsthand the emotional tear that it can play into a child’s life, and the way it affects a family. Divorce may cause children to grow up anxious and scared. Children may even ask themselves “why me?”, “what can I do?”, and “where should I go from here?”.

You can look at someone on the outside and think that everything is okay and they have their life together, but on the inside of that person they feel very different. Today divorce is more common and less stigmatized; it can cause short and long term effects on children, emotional and physical pain, which can also linger into their adulthood. There is a lot of variance in how children respond to divorce, but not only can divorce effect the children who go through it but also the parents of the divorce. Behavioral problems and even health problems can arise in the child due to divorce.

The trauma of divorce brings confusion and struggle to children. Toddlers (2-4yrs) responses to divorce is regression, dependency increases, passivity in some. Yong children (5-8yrs) responses to divorce is regression, guilt, abandonment fears, sadness and fantasy. Old children (9-12) responses to divorce is anger, alienation, disappointment, spiritual disillusionment. Teens (13-19yrs) responses to divorce is resentment, fear, withdrawal, depression, loyalty issues, emotionally drained, peace-keeping. The traumatic long-term effects of divorce may spill over into every aspect of a child’s life including: physical, mental and emotional health issues, learning disabilities, social/relationship problems, drug abuse and addiction,

Divorce has become an unquestionable remedy for the miserably married. Currently, the United States has the highest divorce rate in the world. Every year in the US approximately one million children experience divorce which, is about one in every three children (Amato 21). The effects of divorce can be tremendously painful for both children

Divorce is never an easy subject, and is hurtful despite the specific conditions. When going through a divorce it is very important to know the effects that it can have on children. Divorce, in most cases, depending on the circumstance, will have a negative effect on children. Some of the results after a divorce can leave a child in short or long term situations. Adults tend to recover and move on to a new relationship, but the effects on children can be more long term (“Are”). More and more parents are getting divorces as time goes on, and more kids are being exposed to the situation.

50% of all the children born to married parents today, will experience the divorce of their parents’ before they are eighteen years old. Divorce in and of itself doesn’t necessarily harm a child, but the conflict between parents does. A child’s behavior correlates directly with the effects of their parents’ separation. Deep emotional wounds are created before, during, and after divorce and separation. It is rare that you find a child that actually wants their parents to separate, unless the marriage was full of intense conflict and anger. Parents going through a divorce don’t always think about how their child is going to be impacted by it. Children suffer when their parents go through a separation. Divorce increases the risk of psychological and behavioral problems, it makes way for difficulties in the classroom, and the emotional well-being of the child is in danger.

“Divorce isn’t a child's fault; I had a really good childhood up until I was nine, then a classic case of divorce really affected me”- Kurt Cobain. More than 30 years of research is continued to reveal the sides of divorce and the effects it has on children. The risks is steady rising, and just because you think that the effects won’t occur to your child the odds do greatly increase.

In the last two decades divorce has increased substantially leaving couples single and families broken. Divorce is the reality for many families as there is an increase in divorce rates, cohabitation rates, and the number of children raised in step and single marital families. Divorce cannot be overlooked as it negatively affects and impacts youngsters for the rest of their lives. Although it is the decision between two parents’s children are hurt the most in the process. The concept of divorce is extremely difficult for children to understand as there are many unanswered questions and uncertainties. “Will my mom or dad remarry and who will I live with?” are concerns children express while going through divorce. Many

Divorce, once considered deviant has become the social norm of modern society. Also, secularization, the declining influence of religion on society has reinforced the acceptance of divorce (Cook, 2011). This contributes to the rise in the divorce rates. Forty to Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce (E. Kazdin Ph.D., 2000) and sixty percent of second marriages will end in divorce (Dr. William, 2013). Divorce is easier to get because of secularization has led to marriage becoming less important and sacred. (Cook, 2011) Changes of the laws allow anyone to file for divorce if they can afford the annulment process. Divorce is the resolution for failed marriages caused by different things such as lack of interest,

Divorce is becoming a worldwide occurrence, notably affecting children’s well being. It radically alliterates their future causing damaging 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). Many children after a split of parents are exposed to a number of changes in the future. Their reaction to divorce can vary and depends on age, gender and personal characteristics. This essay will explain the effects of divorce on children under various aspects such as scholastic, psychological and social impact. In addition, it will contain information about the divorce rate in the US and present disparate reactions of the children that are involved. It will also include several suggestions for parents as to how to act toward children after divorce, in order to minimize the effects sustained.

Moon, M. (2011). The Effects of Divorce on Children: Married and Divorced Parents ' Perspectives. Journal Of Divorce & Remarriage, 344-349.

Nearly one million children will experience divorce each year, and often times we see the repercussions affecting the children more than the couple. Rates of divorce in America have reached 40-50 percent, and can streamline into negative effects on the children including behavior changes, drug abuse or attempting suicide. We also see issues with stress and anger coping skills. One parent households have a higher chance of facing poverty and other hardships. Although parents may be tempted to divorce easily, they should rethink and consider the short and long-term effects that can take a toll on their children.

Divorce has many effects on a child’s growth and development, many of which may be through the psychological development. Once the children are impacted, it is difficult to approach and alter the traumatic situation because the root had already been planted pre-divorce within the term of the relationship. As divorce rates have increased over the years, so has the effect on child’s psychological growth, which may occur in children of all ages. The Effects of Divorce on Children, an article by Psychologist Donald A. Gorden details the drastic difference the effects have on depending on the children and their age. Depending on the age, the child will experience a higher or lower effect and will react differently. For example a pre-schooler will take on guilt and fear while a teenager might be concerned, but will understand what is going on (Gorden). One may not know the exact reactions to look out for but you cannot expect all reaction to be the same. Adults must be careful when they approach their children because it may result as a harmful expression towards them. Lisa Herrick collaborated with other Psychologist and Therapist groups in her article, Healthy Divorce, How to a make your slip as smooth as possible, expressed how children everyday are being impacted by the conflict and separation between their parent. In reality, when children are involved, it is very traumatic for them to adjust, but a child has an easier time adjusting if they are exposed to less

The biggest effect of divorce is on children if the couple has children. Children turn out to be the most affected when their parents divorce because, they will not be able to experience parents love and guidance from both parents. Many kids who live with a single parent because of a divorce will always end up indulging in devious behaviors due to lack of parental guidance from both parents. Children are affected in their studying, their normal life, and even their self –esteem when their parents are divorced, and some even end up dropping out of school. Children from divorced parents are psychologically affected, and parents should not only think of their own feelings, but also put their children’s’ interests at