The Effects of Divorce on Young Children

1694 words 7 pages
Show More
The statistics for divorce in the 1990's suggest that nearly sixty percent of marriages end in divorce. Given this startling figure, the assumption can be made that many children will experience some effects caused by the life-changing event called divorce. What is it exactly about divorce that causes negative consequences for these children? In what ways will these children be effected? Will these effects show outwardly? I will attempt to uncover some of the complexities surrounding these psychological questions in the following text. The unsettling fact is: young children of divorced parents face great psychological challenges due to the environmental conditions and changes associated with divorce (Wolchik and Karoly 45). …show more content…

Change occurring in the parent-child relationship is almost always prevalent leading children to worry about who will take care of them. Disorganization and inconsistency in parenting styles leaves children in a state of confusion. Children don't know what behavior is acceptable at mom's vs. dad's place of residence. The decrease in income level can contribute to anxiety, frustration, and even embarrassment for children. Due to all these changes, it is reasonable to hypothesize that environmental condition and change associated with the post divorce adjustment period are mediated both by the different experiences that occur and by different responses to these experiences.

Interview of : Caleb, age seven

"My parents aren't actually divorced yet. But they're getting one soon. They stopped living together when I was one and a half, and my Dad moved next door. Then, when I was five, he moved to Chicago, and that hurt my feelings because I realized he was really leaving and I wouldn't be able to see him every day. My father's an artist, and when he lived next door to us in New York, I used to go to his studio every day and watch him when he was welding. I had my own goggles and tools, and we would spend many an hour together. I remember when I first heard the bad news that he was moving away, because I almost flipped my lid. My father said he would be divorcing my Mom but that he wouldn't be divorcing me and we'd still see each other a

Related

  • The Effects of Divorce
    2308 words | 10 pages

    The Effects of Divorce Divorce in our society has become increasingly common. Fifty percent of all marriages will end in divorce and each year 2 million children are newly introduced to their parents separation, (Monthly Vital Statistics Report ). Demographers predict that by the beginning of the next decade the majority of the youngsters under 18 will spend part of their childhood in single-parent families, many created by divorce. During this confusing period of turmoil and high emotional….

    Show More
  • Divorce: How Does It Affect Children?
    2585 words | 11 pages

    Divorce: How does it affect children? Over 60 percent of couples seeking a divorce have children still living at home. ( 6) What some parents don't realize when they file for a divorce is the damage and effect that it will have on their kids. Divorce affects children in many ways. It affects kids emotionally and causes them to experience painful feelings such as fear, loss, anger and confusion. Divorce also hurts a child's academic achievement. Children whose parents divorce generally have….

    Show More
  • What Can Affect Attitude and Behavior?
    2140 words | 9 pages

    What can affect attitude and behavior? Outline I. Family life. a. Divorce and attitude b. Family values c. Modeling adults II. Friendships. a. Friends and behavior. b. Peer pressure. c. Positive friendships. III. Surroundings. a. Home setting. b. Importance of education. c. Environment. IV. Economic Status. a. Career. b. Poverty vs. Middleclass. c. Improving your economic status. A person’s attitude and behavior can be….

    Show More
  • Using Material from Item a and Elsewhere Assess Sociological Explanations of the Nature and Extent of Family Diversity Today.
    1586 words | 7 pages

    of this is clear to be seen when the marriage rates pre the Divorce Act are compared with the marriage rates post it. The influx of immigrants into the UK has also had a profound effect on family diversity in today’s society. For example, a large number of afro-Caribbean people have made Britain their home. They are often stigmatised because of their disproportionately high level of single mother families with a large brood of children. This contrasts greatly with Ballard’s study of Asian immigrants….

    Show More
  • Understand the Potential Effects of Transitions on Children and Young People
    4112 words | 17 pages

    Child and young person development Outcome 3: Understand the potential effects of transitions on children and young people 3.1 Identify the transitions experienced by most children and young people 3.3 Describe with examples how transitions may affect children and young people’s behaviour and development Under each heading, explain how each aspect may impact on a child’s behaviour & development, giving examples. • Puberty: Puberty is a major transition that all children at some….

    Show More
  • Developmental Analysis
    2739 words | 11 pages

    Two patterns have been described, an emotionally withdrawn –inhibited pattern and an indiscriminately social –disinhibited pattern, each of which have been observed in children raised in institutions and in maltreated children (Zeanah and Fox, 2004). Growing into an adult after finding out that I wasn’t raised by my mother the first few months I felt some emotional distress, I felt from looking back on my childhood that there were some favoritism….

    Show More
  • The Effects of Single Parenting on Children
    3127 words | 13 pages

    Effects of Single Parenting on Children For as long as human families have existed, the core family group of a father, mother, and the children has been the ideal composition in what could be considered a balanced and fulfilling functional family. There had been many studies of the effects of having certain members of these groups on the family household present and absent. While there are many hypothesis of the effects of the children in the family in household with a missing parent, most of….

    Show More
  • Community Health and Population Focused Nursing revision
    2538 words | 11 pages

    Application of Community Health and Population Focused Nursing VWT Task 1 Cassidi Roberts Western Governors University Community Health and Population Focused Nursing McKinney, Texas is “unique by nature”. As one of the fastest growing cities in the US, McKinney has a current population of more than 149,000, located 30 miles north of Dallas and is the seat of Collin County. McKinney offers rolling hills, lush trees, a historic downtown square and unique neighborhoods and developments. The….

    Show More
  • The Other Side of Email
    959 words | 4 pages

    card and bank account numbers were also put at risk.” There are many other demoralizing aspects of internet based technology, such as pornography. Children that learn how to use a computer at a young age are introduced to such content at an age that they shouldn’t be. This significantly hinders their future progress and affects their morals. Children adapt a lifestyle of sitting at home, playing with their iPods, Laptops and other internet devices, as opposed to playing sports, spending time with….

    Show More
  • Teenage Abortion
    1155 words | 5 pages

    seeks care in the early weeks of pregnancy. Although the risk of complication is not as high as that of childbirth, it does rise with every week of pregnancy beyond eight weeks. By placing roadblocks in teenagers' paths, restrictive laws have the effect of creating further delays among women who already have difficulty seeking prompt care. When teens know that health care providers are forced by law to tell their parents before providing services, they are less willing to get health care related….

    Show More

Popular Essays