The Impact of Divorce on Children
Sociology 210
Amy Totten

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. Alarmingly, studies have revealed that 50 percent of children under the age of 18 will experience the dissolution of their parents’ marriage. When a divorce occurs, parents tend to forget about the child and do not realize how much of a negative impact that it has on the child. Children already go through enough stress of just everyday situations and to add to it only make things worse. The impact of divorce will affect each child differently, but all will experience some type of emotional distress. This paper will provide a detailed description of the emotional and psychological effects of divorce on infants; school aged children and adolescents, behavioral development in children of divorce, and strategies to help children cope with divorce.

The Impact of Divorce on Children The traditional lifestyle of living with both parents is almost rare in today’s society. Divorce is a very tragic situation especially when it involves children. As the world turns, the divorce rates continue to rise. Studies have revealed that 50 percent of children under the age of 18 will experience divorce. In the process of the divorce parents really don’t understand that through divorce it affects them but it also has a major impact on their children lives. Children go through different changes in their lives as a result to divorce. Sometimes the effects of divorce can be short or long term consequences. Children experience depression, sleep disorders, anxiety attacks etc. The National Survey of Children showed that more than 30 percent of the individuals whose parents separated or divorced before they were eight years old had received therapy by the time they were teenagers (Schilling). This survey shows that divorce does take a toll on children that experience this disaster.
The Emotional and Psychological Effects of Divorce on Children Children tend to experience emotional and psychological problems due to the result of divorce. Some parents may think that it will not affect the child, but what they fail to realize that if they are going through emotional distress that their children are experiencing distress as well. Researchers agree that divorce results in more stress upon the children involved and less parental support (Jeynes). Divorce brings on a lot of stress in the children. They may become distant towards their parents, begin to feel resilient, and even feel that it is their fault because of their parents’ divorce. Through a divorce you would think that the parents would be more supportive than they are. However, the parents are less supportive and are not so involved in the child’s life. The increased stress that parents experience likely contributes to a reduction in all four of the aspects of parental support (less involvement, supervision, control, and time (Jeynes).
Infants, school-aged, and adolescents are all affected in different ways of divorce. Infants’ reaction to divorce can closely be related to their primary caregivers’ emotional status and adjustment(Emery). School-aged children are at a greater risk than infants are. The reaction from school-aged children result in depression, withdrawal, grieving, fear, fantasies of responsibility for the break-up and of possible reconciliation, anger, shame, decreased school performance, a sense of loss or rejection, and conflicts over which parent to express loyalty to (Emery). Adolescents face some of the same qualities as the younger children face but they are able to adapt better at this age. In conclusion to divorce, parents must step up to the plate and take on the responsibility and make sure they are doing the best thing for the child. It is evident that children will experience different effects from a divorce.

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References
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Emery, E. Robert. (2004). The truth about children and divorce. Dealing with the emotions so you and your child can thrive. New York, NY. Penguin Group
Jeynes. William. (2002). Divorce, Family Structure, and the Academic Success of Children. Binghamton, NY. The Hawthorne Press, Inc.
Reynolds R. Lisa. (2009). Still a Family. A guide to good parenting through divorce. New York, NY. American Management Association
Schilling S. Lynne. (1983). The effects of divorce on children. A perspective for the pediatric health care provider. Journal of social issues