Childhood and adolescence is a critical development time in an individual’s life. The dynamics that influence economic, mental, and emotional stability later in life can be directly traced to the situation in the home where t individual grew up. Children who experience an interruption of the security of their home are at-risk for a number of negative factors, including substance abuse and psychological disorders. Because nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, this is a societal issue that needs to be addressed to determine how best to protect children during divorce. By protecting children from stressor during divorce and education parent son how to interact with their children post-divorce, many of the risk factor may be averted.
Research has identified that children will engage in risky behavior in the aftermath of a divorce. The breakup of a home is a traumatic event, and children will handle family stressors in different ways. Turning to substance abuse (including cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana) as a coping mechanism is the route many adolescents choose to take. Whether this is due to the stress in the household prior to the divorce, tension and fighting between parents during the divorce or a lack of involvement from one or both parents after the divorce needs to be determined. What is known is that youth are much more likely to abuse alcohol and other substances in a year after a divorce. Even more alarming is that these abuses are not temporary, and the long-term effects of divorce on substance abuse are sometimes higher than the immediate effects. (Arkes, 2013 p. 296) What goes on preceding the divorce has a high impact on the likelihood that a child will engage in substance abuse. In order to avoid these negative effects parents should employ strategies to reduce fighting and tension in the family during the divorce process. Children should not be exposed to fights, abuse or custody battles. In general, children are harmed by witnessing discord between their parents and do not have the mental or emotional security to deal with their anxiety anger and sadness without mature aid from their parents, or a professional.
One of the factors that contribute to substance abuse in children post divorce is a lack of parental supervision. Transitioning from a two-parent home where the mother may not have worked outside the home can be financially stressful. This is exacerbated if the child no longer has a parent in the home full time, as was the custom prior to the divorce. Income reduction after a divorce is another negative effect on children. Low socio-economic status is associated with many at risk behaviors, such as teen pregnancy and high school interruption. Research has show that female-headed households post-divorce typically experience a 56% drop in household income. (Bratberg, Tjøtta, 2008 p. 440)
Along with a reduction in income and substance abuse, children also experience other negative effects post divorce. The immediate reactions to divorce depend on a child’s age. Between the ages of 5 and 8, children will experience sadness, insecurity, and abandonment. They may even feel guilty. Between the ages of 9 and 12, intense anger and feelings of rejection will accompany the above reactions. Children older than 12 will often act out in terms of engaging in risky behaviors. (Weston, 2009) The long-term effects of divorce on children are also serious. Children exhibit changes in behavior at school, which impedes academic performance. As well, later in their lives adults who experienced divorce as children tend to have interrupted personal relationships and are more likely to have children out of wedlock and/or divorce. (Weston, 2009) Portnoy’s research on the long term effects of divorce agree that children experience loss of income, lower educational achievement and psychological stress, however, in the research he has reviewed it states that these effects aren’t as severe or long lasting as previously thought. (Portnoy, 2008) However, he does still agree that the negative effects are pronounced including a greater likelihood to be divorced themselves in their adulthood.
Kim assessed data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study to determine the effects of divorce on children. Her research focused on the negative effects during the divorce process and on whether factors prior to the divorce contributed to negative outcomes. Her conclusions were that during the divorce process children suffer from a setback in interpersonal skills and academic achievement, as well after divorce. It should be noted that because her study examined children between the 1st and 3rd grades, her conclusions may not apply to older children. (Kim, 2011) However, her conclusions do support that the process of divorce is stressful on children. Decreased academic achievement can be attributed to internalizing behaviors in which the child is feeling depressed, distracted, uninterested in work, and angry. These emotions then affect the ability to concentrate in school and the desire to maintain academic achievement.
The above recommendations show that even thought the effects of divorce on children are grave and long lasting, conscientious parents can do much to mitigate these effects so the quality of life and psychological health of their children remains intact. Currently many divorce courts require parents seeking divorce complete a parenting class as a stipulation or being granted the divorce. Parents should embrace these parenting classes and seek family counseling to ensure a transition that is as healthy and positive as possible for their children.
REFERNCES
Arkes, J. (2013). The Temporal Effects of Parental Divorce on Youth Substance Use. Substance Use & Misuse, 48(3), 290-297. doi:10.3109/10826084.2012.755703
Bratberg, E., & Tjøtta, S. (2008). Income effects of divorce in families with dependent children. Journal Of Population Economics,21(2), 439-461.
Kim, H. (2011). Consequences of Parental Divorce for Child Development. American Sociological Review, 76(3), 487-511.
Portnoy, S. M. (2008). The Psychology of Divorce: A Lawyer's Primer, Part 2: The Effects of Divorce on Children. American Journal Of Family Law, 21(4), 126-134.
Weston, F. (2009). Effects of divorce or parental separation on children second article in a series. British Journal Of School Nursing, 4(5), 237-243.
