In the United States today, we live in a society that has perhaps one of the highest rates of divorce amongst all other industrial nations at a rate averaging around 40 to 50 percent. Of that staggering rate of divorce, 60 percent of those involve children. Because of this, more than one million children go through their parents’ divorce each year. Now, during this time of divorce a great focus seems to be drawn between the adults, but at what point should we wonder about the children? What changes and potential consequences are thrust upon the child forced to go through what might be considered an extremely demanding ordeal such as his/her parents’ divorce. I will tackle this topic with the assistance of various resources that have …show more content…
The trauma and distress of children going through divorce is often produced from overwhelming senses of vulnerability as the family seemingly collapses, grief at the loss of what felt like an intact family as well as at the loss of the non-custodial parent, and even a strong sense of powerlessness to being unable to prevent the divorce from happening.
The simple act of divorce alone can be a very stressful event for any child. As such, the looming realization that things will be different, yet not knowing how, often plays to the fears of the child. Divorce for a child can often lead to reduced contact with the non-custodial parent (often the father), lower standards of living, moving from one home to another, changing schools, having more responsibility thrust upon them, or even the potential for the custodial parent to be less psychologically or physically available for the child when they need them. All of these are environmental forces that can lead to an overwhelming amount of stress for any child, leaving them in a negative position and making it harder for them to cope and adjust to the divorce. Often times children can’t mentally cope with the divorce, either. With children being as egocentric as they are, it is impossible for a child to look at the conflict between their parents indifferently. Many children are stuck with a sense that they are the reason for their
Divorce is one of the most common happenings in the world experienced by children. Most children go through different adjustments to become comfortable with the fact that their parents are not together anymore. Children of divorced parents are prone to lifelong effects. Seventy-five to eighty percent of children have divorced parents and twenty-five percent of those children have serious social, emotional, or psychological problems for the rest of their life. Most adults think that it is best for parents to stay together for the sake of their child because having two parents in different households can become difficult for the child socially and academically.
Amato, Paul R., and Bruce Keith. "Parental Divorce and the Well-Being of Children: A Meta-Analysis." Journal of Marriage and the Family 110.1 (1991): 26-46. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
In years past, the American Dream for most young girls’ is to grow up and be married to Prince Charming and to “Live Happily Ever After!” Although this may be expected - it is rarely fulfilled. Marriage is the legal and binding union between a man and woman. Yet when couples marry, they vow to stay by their partner’s side ‘till death do us part.’ Currently that vow seems to have little or no value in today’s society. The current statistics for survival of marriage are quite grim. The divorce rate in the United States is somewhere between 50 percent and a startling 67 percent. (KSL News) One contributing factor the growing epidemic of divorce is the parting of different family
Children react differently yet similarly in divorce. Every child caught up in the distress of divorce has a hard time coping with it and imagining their life without a parent. Their
Divorce may affect young children somewhat differently than older children. According to Karen DeBord, a child development specialist, there are different stages in childhood, and at each of these stages children have a different understanding of divorce. At the infancy stage children are not capable of understanding the conflict, but may notice a difference in the parents' disposition (DeBord, 1997). Here she states that children may react with a loss of appetite, upset stomach, or anxiety. As a toddler they recognize the loss a parent but cannot reason
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? This paper will examine some of the major research and several different perspectives regarding the outcomes of divorce for the children involved, and whether it can actually be in the best interest of the kids.
Divorce causes many problems for children and has many implications. Psychological implications include mental health problems and behavioral problems. Social roles are turned inside out and upside down. Children are often pulled in many directions. In the United States divorce is very common and often leaves children confused and without options. Many turn toward violence, crime, drugs, and isolation. Studies show how adults can reduce the tension for these children. Other
Through out this discussion the reader has seen the effects of divorce on children. These effects are primarily shown in three areas of the childrens lives. These three areas are emotionally, physically, and
Divorce can have a long lasting impact on everyone involved, but most often, it is the children who suffer this dramatic change the most. When a couple decides to divorce, there are considerations that are made during the process, however, most often, the lifelong effects of the divorce on children is underestimated. Children undergo severe psychological, emotional, and mental trauma during a divorce process. This is due to the immense changes of lifestyle and households that can seem overwhelming to a child.
Whether the divorce was a product of constantly fighting, lying or cheating, it can cause a kid to feel obligated to pick the side of the victim in the relationship which can change the dynamic of a kid and their parents relationships dynamic for life. Some relationship do not recover from divorce and can remain broken forever. Things kids find hard to do is look at both sides of the relationship and what the true dynamic is. Some people are just not made for each other and kids find that hard to believe because that causes their two most important people of their lives to split
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 is a hard thing for anyone to go through. If you’re having a troublesome time going through the divorce, imagine how difficult this must be for your child. Divorce affects every person in the family, especially children, no matter how old they are. Every child has their own way of reacting the divorce. Many children react by acting out to get attention, while others withdraw and turn their anger inside.
This progression takes time. They often go through the stages of grief, which may affect them in the short run, but eventually the children learn how to cope with stress and sorrow. In doing so, the children become more mature, and they “turn the crisis of divorce into an opportunity for growth” (Rubio 2003: 57). The positive effects of divorce often appear emotionally, psychologically, and socially in the life of children.
Divorce and its effects on children are common issues that are on the rise in the world today. Divorce affects more than just the married couple. Children often bear the brunt of divorce, which makes divorce a complicated decision for most parents. Understanding the effects divorce has on a child is important to know exactly why a child acts a certain way. A divorce can affect a child psychologically, intellectually, and even behaviorally. Children can suffer physiologically from things like depression, intellectually by having trouble in school and behaviorally by having trouble in social settings. Legally, a divorce is a single event, but from a psychological standpoint, it is a complicated,
Divorce is a plague that is destroying numerous families across the United States of America. Sadly, when husbands and wives divorce, the children are often caught directly in the middle. Throughout the years divorce has been becoming more and more common. In the 1920's it was a rare find to know a person whom had been divorced, today it is a rarity not to know of one who has been, or will be divorced. Divorce has numerous effects on the structures of families, and many devastating effects on the children that must experience it, although sometimes necessary, divorce radically changes the lives of adolescents and adults alike.