Term Paper on "Effects of Divorce on Children"

Term Paper 6 pages (1771 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Divorce can have a devastating impact on a family. Children are particularly vulnerable when their parents are divorced. For many years, experts in the field of child psychology have investigated the impact of divorce on children. They have found that children of divorce can have a plethora of problems including behavioral, emotional and adjustment difficulties. For the purposes of this discussion, we will explore the impact of divorce on children.

According to current data, nearly 51% of all marriages in the United States ends in divorce (Love and Murdock 2004). In addition, the divorce rate began to climb in the 1960's. Many factors may have contributed to this increase including a greater independence felt by women and the ability they had to support themselves (Love and Murdock 2004). Along with these factors is the increase in the number of stepfamilies because many who remarry already have children (Love and Murdock 2004). The introduction of the stepfamily into a divorced situation can lead to even greater problems for children of divorce (Love and Murdock 2004).

Another researcher reports that there are differing opinions concerning the impact of divorce on children. Jeynes (2001) reports some experts believe that most children heal from divorce 2 to 3 years after the divorce has occurred. While others have concluded that the impact of divorce can be seen well into adulthood (Jeynes 2001). The author asserts

"the effects of parental divorce persist well into adulthood (Amato, 1999; Rossi and Rossi, 1990). These theorists point to 2 general lines of evidence that indicate that there is a certain level of constancy in the effects of parental divorce over time. First, some research indicates that there often exists a transmission of traits across generations. That is, if a parent is prone to behavior that is conducive to putting strains on marital relationships, even to the point of divorce, the children will be more likely to exhibit similar kinds of behavior even when they are adults ... Furthermore, research also indicates that parental divorce can affect the academic attainment of the children into young adulthood, as well as the psychological well-being of these children (Jeynes 2001).

In any case, there is substantial research that indicates that children do not go unaffected by the divorce of their parents. For some children the divorce may result in feelings of insecurity and behavioral problems. While other children are able to adjust and excel.

The impact of Divorce on Children (Studies)

Lengua et al. (2000) investigated the impact of divorce on the ability of children to adjust. The study was conducted with 231 mothers and children ages 9-12 (Lengua et al. 2000). All of the participants were products of recent divorce. The study sought to determine if the children would experience adjustment problems because of their parents' divorce (Lengua et al. 2000). The study tested such variables as temperament, adjustment and parenting (Lengua et al. 2000). The study found that both parenting and temperament directly effected outcomes (Lengua et al. 2000).

The results of the study indicate that parental rejection was strongly related to the ability of the child to adjust when combined with a low degree of positive emotionality (Lengua et al. 2000). Likewise, the study concluded that inconsistent discipline when combined with impulsivity is also more likely to result in adjustment problems of children (Lengua et al. 2000). The study asserts that positive emotionality can protect children of divorce from developing adjustment problems and children with high impulsivity are at greater risk of having adjustment problems after a divorce (Lengua et al. 2000). In addition, The authors suggests that "divorce increases the likelihood of both negative parenting and adjustment problems, potentially increasing the sensitivity of these for interaction effects (Lengua et al. 2000, p 232)." The study also asserts that a child's ability to adjust is dependent upon the relationship between the child and the residential parent (Lengua et al. 2000, p 232). The authors explain that divorce has been linked to a decline in the quality of parenting that a child receives (Lengua et al. 2000, p 232). The authors point out that divorce can lead to inconsistent discipline, poor communication and inconsistent affection (Lengua et al. 2000, p 232). In addition, the authors assert that the mother child relationship is an important predictor of adjustment after a divorce (Lengua et al. 2000, p 232).

Other research has suggested that children of divorce tend to have attachment problems. In an article entitled Attachment to Parents and Psychological well being: An Examination of young Adult College Student in intact Families and Step Families, Love and Murdock (2004)

found that divorce has an impact even on adult children. The researchers explain that people raised in stepfamilies are at a greater risk of developing emotional and behavioral problems than people raised in intact biological families (Love and Murdock 2004). The authors explain that children that are not raised in intact biological families have more problems in school, with peers, less initiative and have more behavioral problems (Love and Murdock 2004). The researcher emphasize that the risk for developing such problems were decreased but not eliminated when based on the education of the parents or family income (Love and Murdock 2004).

In their study, Love and Murdock 2004 examined 173 college students from a city in the Midwest United States (Love and Murdock 2004). The participants were students at two of the areas community colleges and one university (Love and Murdock 2004). Sixty nine percent of the participants were females and most were Caucasian. The average age of participants in the study was 19 and the average income for the students was around $8,000 (Love and Murdock 2004). Fourteen percent of the participants were from households where a stepmother was present and 34% of the participants had stepfathers (Love and Murdock 2004). The rest were from intact families or single parent homes. The average family income was just over $69,000 and the average amount of education was 13 years (Love and Murdock 2004).

The results of the study indicate that there are significant differences in the level and quality of attachments between stepfamilies and intact families (Love and Murdock 2004). The study found that the students from intact families felt a greater sense a security and attachment to their parent than did the students of stepfamilies (Love and Murdock 2004). The study indicated that perceived attachment was a predictor of psychological well being of the students involved (Love and Murdock 2004). The research also indicates that the relationship must adversely affected by a stepfamily is that of the father and child (Love and Murdock 2004).

Although divorce and adjusting to a stepfamily can have negative outcomes for young adults, Nielson (1999) points out that there can be some positive outcomes as well. The author explains that when parent divorce but the mother remarries within a few years of the divorce, there are not serious long-term problems with peer relationships, social maturity, vocational accomplishments or mental health (Nielson 1999). The author explains that

"those teenagers and young adults who have had ongoing social, psychological, or academic problems since their parents' divorce were almost always troubled in these ways while their parents were married as well. Although a troubled child's behavior and disorders often do get worse when the parents divorce, a child's ongoing problems are almost never caused by these changes in the family... Interestingly too, college students with divorced parents are often better than their peers at appreciating and respecting other people's perspectives and being empathic (Kogos & Snarey. 1995). Many of these young adults also seem to have developed more mature, more level-headed attitudes about love and marriage as a consequence of their parents divorce (Nielson 1999)."

This research and similar research indicates that children are indeed impacted by the divorce of their parents. Likewise, there is an impact to be felt by the development of a stepfamily and the adjustments that must take place. In addition, the studies indicate that the adult children of divorce have a tendency to feel less secure than kinds in intact families. This suggests that people long for the connection with their biological parents and they desire for there biological parents have a connection with one another.

This research topic is important because it affects so many. With the increases in the rate of divorce and the subsequent increases in the number of stepfamilies, it is important to understand how these dynamic influence society. Knowing such information is beneficial in the world of psychology because it allows psychologists to properly treat children and adults that suffer from problems related to the divorce of their parents. Additionally, this information is beneficial to the field of education as more and more children are having academic problems because of the instability of their homes. Most importantly, understanding this information will aid parents in getting help for their children after the divorce. Better yet, knowing such information may influence the parents to work through the situation and not seek a divorce.… READ MORE

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