...Does the Divorce of Parents Harm Their Children? Each year the American society deals with divorce. Divorce introduces a massive change into children and adults life no matter what the age is. Divorce can be harmful to children if the parents continue to fight and argue and can never get along. Children can be made out to believe that the divorce between their parents was their fault or that they aren’t loved anymore. However, children can come out strong in divorce as long as their parents can be co-parents without conflict. Divorce in America now is more common than it was back in the 1960’s and 70’s. Many couples got divorced due to infidelity and abuse. Now, in this day and age, men and women get divorced due to their own personal happiness. Professor Tamara D. Afifi spoke on a TEDxTalk in 2012 and said that many children from families who divorced and fight have more trust issues and hurt more on the inside than from children whose parents get along and co-parent without conflict. (Afifi, 2012) Each year, over 1 million American children suffer the divorce of their parents; Half of American children born this year will witness divorce with their parents. Of that 50% another 50% will experience a second divorce. (Rector & Fagan, 2000) Many believe that divorce has a negative effect on children. Not only does it cause them to have trust issues and often have relationship difficulties later in life, but they tend to dwell on the divorce as their fault. Children of divorced...
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...there is no way for us to avoid the issues that strike us as a society and our children seem to be the ones that suffer most when decisions about the family separating or divorcing are being made. Parents seem to forget that children need stability and protection from the adult issues that can occur in their lives. These decisions will have an effect on children for their entire lives, and parents cannot imagine the long lasting effects. More and more children seem to be on the front lines of these custody battles between parents. Are parents risking the children’s psychological and emotional stability by having the children on the battle ground of a divorce? Children are very resilient but they need parental help to recover from a divorce. The court relies on what the parents are telling them as much as the other professionals and behavioral analysis examiners that have been assigned to the cases. While some parents do not mind this intrusion in to their lives, children feel as if things are not safe or stable. Parents will start to play “tug-of-war” with the children stuck in the middle. Parents who do not settle disputes over custody without the courts help will risk everyone especially the child being hurt. Courts will normally side for what has been the normal stable situation for the child, if there has not been abuse in the home. Parents who are taking the battles for custody of children to the court system should be aware if the court perceives the parents could...
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...Divorce and Children According to the study that was done in 2004 "In the United States, between 43% and 50% of first marriages end in divorce"(U.S Census Bureau qtd inLansford 140). One can assume that many children will experience some affects caused by divorce. There is evidence to support that children would be better off if the parents stayed married and there is equal supporting evidence that it would be better off if they divorced. A survey done in 2009 by 1000 teenagers "When asked what the teens wanted their parents to know they said that divorce "hurts," "sucks" and that they "don’t want to be blamed for it" or caught in the middle"(GordonPoll Youth Survey qtd inJolivet 175). There are three main areas that impact children's experience with divorce such as behavioral, psychological, and social issues. Children are effected by divorce in many ways which cause their behavior to not be normal. When children go through a traumatic event, such as losing a parent to divorce, they want to act out because they are hurt, and do not know what to do with their emotions. An article written by Ahron Constance states "…..divorce prevents certain risks, is an emotionally stressful and complex transition for families, and continues to affect children into adulthood" (55). Divorce is a hard thing for children to learn how to cope with. Children of different ages rebel in different ways; they do this because at different age levels they cannot comprehend certain things and are...
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...Divorce can affect children regardless of their age. For those that are for divorce would agree that conflict involving the family would be resolved, allowing the children to escape the trauma they may face. Children, especially those that are young are unable to process events during this time that may become stressful. The divorce of one’s parents can have a long-term effect on everyone that is involved. Relationships may become pivotal assuming the different facets that impacts each child. The end of a marriage can be very tragic, especially when children are involved. It can go on to have a rippling affect and affect children in different ways. Children are very vulnerable and may be impacted by the now divided family. It is the theory that when one’s parents become divorced, they have a higher chance at becoming divorced as well. It is clear that divorce can has effects and can cause long-term issues later down the road. If parents fail to handle the situation properly and with care, children could have feelings of alienation, abandonment, issues with insecurity, and confusion that could adventure in relationships into adulthood. These circumstances could cause children to feel...
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...mates. Stories however do not always have beautiful endings. The number of individuals opting for divorce has been steadily increasing over the past few years. Some problems in the marriage can be resolved through variety of ways including counseling but sometimes the only solution to living happily is by parting ways. While the exact reasons for divorces cannot be completely determined it has been observed that in recent times more numbers of women have been initiating divorce as compared to men. Some common causes of divorce include: Money Couples often end up having disputes over money. In many cases one of the partners is invariably not happy with the spending habits of the other individual. This can result in massive fights. That money is a contentious issue among couples can be seen from the fact that opinion polls indicate as many as ninety percent respondents reporting fights over money. Likewise over 34% couples indicated that money was one of the major problems. Alcohol and Substance Abuse Any form of substance abuse can put a terrible strain on a relationship as substance abuse is often followed with abusive behavior. Many people cannot put up with the addictive behavior of their partners and this causes divorce. Sexual Problems Improper and problematic attitudes towards sex also results in problems within the marriage and this is responsible for eventual divorce. Infidelity in particular has been responsible for breakdown of many relationships and marriages...
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...The causes and effects of divorce Divorce refers to a legal act, which dissolves the marriage and terminates rights and obligations between husband and wife through agreement or litigation (Psychology Today, nd). Nowadays the phenomenon of divorce is becoming very common in the world. This caused widespread concern by the whole society. There are many causes can lead to a divorce and the causes are usually complex and diverse. Also divorce may result in a lot of effects. There are three main causes that lead to a divorce. First of all, marital infidelity is the first and foremost reason for the divorce. This is a very serious mental harm to the spouse and difficult to repair. Owing to divorce likes a war without winners, both of husband and wife do not want to wage this internecine war easily. Nevertheless, marital infidelity usually turns into the blasting fuse of the war. No matter whether is man or woman’s extramarital affair, it can be a fatal blow to the marriage. If it happens, it will be one of the most traumatic experiences in the whole life. In the second place, husband and wife have a lack of mutual understanding and get married in haste. If they find many different points of each other and even other’s shortcomings after marriage, they may regret they get the wrong person. Due to they do not have a solid emotional foundation, marriage cannot bear the temptation. Therefore, even though there is a small conflict, it may make couples break with each other thoroughly...
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...Effects of Divorce on Kids Molly Rudkin Sociology 1113 Sec. 16 Years ago in the 1950s divorces were frowned upon. Very rarely did people hear about a couple getting a divorced. Many people considered divorce as a mark of personal failure. As years have gone by and society has changed in many different ways, divorce has become socially accepted in today’s society. Divorce is no longer considered a taboo. With divorce, different people are affected by it. Obviously the family members are the ones affected the most by this decision. But one group of family members that will always be affected, especially in the long run, are the kids. There are many causes of divorce today. There’s the fact that individualism is increasing and becoming a trend. Many people are so use to being on their own that when they have someone else in their lives that they also have to take care of, they’re not use to the adjustment (Society the Basics, pg. 386). Especially with the rise of independence women now have in today’s society, they no longer need a man to depend on. Women are more independent and are now able to support themselves. With the rise of women independency, divorces are now happening due to this. Some men aren’t use to being married to a dominant woman. Divorces involving children usually affect the child more than most people think. The kids are always at crossroads when it comes to making decisions involving parents. They feel like they are torn in two. “By not taking sides...
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...The Impact of Divorce on Children PSYC 210-D06 Abstract Divorce has become a new common way of life in our current society that we find ourselves in. We must understand the impact that divorce has on children as it plays a major role on a family physically and emotionally. In this research you will see how divorce impacts children under the age of 18, that divorce has an impact on children. This paper will also provide solutions to assist the children on how to manage. Most often when children experience a feeling of not needing to move forward due to such a drastic change like divorce. Finally, in this research paper, you will see ways to help a child adjust after divorce. Divorce has a strong impact on children based inversely on their ages. Sociologist and psychologist have considered that a child under the age of 3 does not always hurt from their parents divorced. They have agreed that problems in temperament can developed if the child had a strong bond between the parents and those connections are broken due to the divorce. According to “Paternal Participation and Children’s Well-Being After Marital Dissolution” we can see the effect in the different stages of their lives: Children ages 3-5 frequently blame themselves for the divorce. The impact leads them to imagine that they are the source of their parents divorcing. Elementary school children are cognitively established enough to understand that they are in pain because the divorce. Accordingly, they...
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...United States came from divorced families. Divorce was never, and never will be a straightforward process nor is it easy. Divorce involves six stages; emotional, legal, economic, co-parental, community and psychic (Matthews, n.d.). Parental divorce certainly gives numerous effects to children, but among those implications, (Matthews, n.d.) described that the long-term effects of divorce is more hazardous than short-term effects. Therefore, short-term effects are considered as temporary and less significant to be included in the scope of discussion. The range of age of individuals affected with parental...
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...The Effects of Divorce on Children ENG215 Research and Writing The Effects of Divorce on Children These days most people accept divorce as a way of life, completely unaware of the damage they are doing to their children. Half of all American children will witness the breakup of a parent’s marriage. Of all children born to married parents, fifty percent of those will experience the divorce of their parents before they graduate from high school. Compared to children from homes disrupted by death, children from divorced homes have more psychological problems and actually the death of a parent is less devastating to a child than the divorce. When children are involved in a divorce, it often leads to a wide variety of problems down the road and not just for the couple divorcing. It is unbelievable how many people get a divorce without looking into what kind of effect it might have on their children. Unfortunately, the traumatic effects of divorce on children stay with them throughout their childhood and continue on into their adult lives. And in most cases, couples find themselves involving their children in divorce which only makes things worse. When you first break the news to your child that you are getting a divorce, their initial reaction might vary from extreme anger, to sadness, to immediately thinking that the breakup is their fault. One of the most damaging effects of divorce on children is the different outlets they turn to in an effort to deal with...
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...Abstract One of two marriages ends in divorce. This fact impacts the loves of many children because the effect of divorce is not limited to the adults. Divorce deeply effects everyone involved especially the children. Research provides evidence of the negative impact on children and how it effects the differently according to the age. It is important that the adults involved be aware of the consequences their divorce will have on the life of their children and take responsibility of setting guidelines for themselves to help their child through this difficult time. Based on careful studies, it is shown that children of divorced parents can function and love normal lives. With a good support system and parents who are willing to move past divorce, children can learn to cope with divorce and move on themselves. Introduction Being a parent can be a demanding job; especially if you are parenting more than one child. This demand grows as the child grows. Children are involved in different activities and also trying to keep up with friends and the technology of today’s world; parenting can be time consuming and expensive. Also, when parents set boundaries for their children, they must be consistent with them. These areas are demanding enough in a two parent home, and twice as hard for a single-parent. In theory, children’s overall well-being will improve if they are raised by married parents. The parents must be happily married for this statement...
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...The Impact of Divorce on Children Destani Hill 201320 Spring 2013 PSYCH 231-B06 LUO March 10, 2013 Abstract Unfortunately divorce is at an all-time high around the world today and there aren’t any signs of it slowing. Numerous amount of stress can stem from divorce, not only for the couple involved but for the child or children involved as well. This paper reflects on the many different effects that divorce can have on children ages eighteen and under in the United States, as well as other countries. In comparison, studies show that there is usually an emotional disconnect involving children of divorced parents or ones whom have begun the long strenuous process. The emotional disconnect can cause children to act different in more ways than one such as; an academically, socially, and unfortunately can lead to relationship problems of their own one day. In contrast, studies are showing signs of improvement in the children of divorced parent but only if the parent seek proper guidance and focus on the security of the child’s feelings and emotions towards throughout the process. Keywords: divorce, children, emotional, social, academic, world, effects The Impact of Divorce on Children At a young age, I became the child of divorced parent, where my parents decided to go their separate ways due to irreconcilable differences. Fortunately, my parents were devoted to raising me together as they planned, just because they had the desire to be in other relationships they agreed...
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...Divorce Affect the Lives of Children Critical Thinking – PHI210 Dr. ED Yancey Daphney Pratcher Abstract Divorce is a very common word in today's society. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage or a complete or radical severance of closely connected things (Gottman, J. 1994).). This dissolution of marriage has increased very rapidly in the past fifty years. Throughout this paper I will discuss divorces effects on children. The dissolution of a marriage is a legal act that may not coincide with the emotional tearing asunder. Divorce is typically a painful process for all concerned. While it can take adults time to regain psychological equilibrium, there is debate whether children ever recover a stable perspective. Post-divorce hostility between adults, in addition to directly harming kids, is a sure indicator that the emotional split is incomplete. In the U.S., divorce rates have been rising since the beginning of the 20th century, and especially since the 1970s, when no-fault divorce was instituted. Some experts contend that the easing of divorce laws has helped make marriage stronger by rooting it more deeply in personal choice, although it does little to give people the skills needed to work out the inevitable difficulties that arise in marriage. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually...
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...How Divorce Impacts Children Under the Age of 18 F. Jeanpierre Psychology Abstract In this research you will see how divorce impacts children under the age of 18. The effects are not universal. Divorce affects children differently based on their age, personality and sexuality. Divorce affects children both mentally and physically. In this research, you will see how divorce can impact children immediately as well as post divorce. I will start with infants, preschool age children, school-aged and then adolescents. Then you will see how divorce affects children spiritually. Furthermore, you will see how the affect of divorce varies based on the child's gender. Finally, in this research paper, you will see ways to help a child adjust after divorce. Infants The first age group is infants. Not too much is known on the affects of divorce for children under the age of 3. Some have speculated that children under the age of 3 does not always suffer from their parents divorced. Thus, sociologist and psychologist agreed that problems in personality can developed if the child had a strong bond between the parents and those bonds are broken due to the divorce. Professionals highly encourage parents to make arrangements so the potential, full affect of the divorce won’t impact the child as much. The conflict of divorce may not be understood by infants, but they can react to changes in the parent’s level of energy and involvement. Infants can lose their appetite, have an upset...
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...changes your whole world. However it’s not only about the two of you. What about the children, how are they supposed to understand that their life will never be the same? As adults we make decisions based on how we feel and what we think is best for all involved. Not realizing that sometimes; not always divorce has a negative impact on the little ones trapped in the middle. When you decide to divorce you need to remember that your child is not a middle man, their emotional wellbeing should be first and they need to be provided with any help possible to make the life changing transition easier for them to understand and make it through. The research that has been done with these children has shown that they experience a higher incidence of internalizing problems, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive worry, problems with concentration and attention, difficulty with emotional regulation, and sleep-related problems. These children tend to externalize their problems with behaviors such as aggressiveness, anger, academic difficulties, poorer peer relationships, resentment of authority, inability to adapt to new situations, sexual acting-out, drug and alcohol use, problems as young adults with intimacy, and problems in their own marriages. (Shienvold) They say children are resilient and they bounce back easily. That most won’t even remember that mommy and daddy were once married and happy. Truth is children know and see more than adults give them credit for. The day you thought you were...
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