Effects of Divorce on Children
Effects of Divorce on Children
Elizabeth O’Connor
Psychology 210
Liberty University Online
Abstract
The purpose of this research paper is to examine the effects divorce has on children. This paper will look at several areas of child development and introduce some statistics on children affected by divorce. It will discuss pre and post-divorce family environments and the factors that lead to it, as well as the effects 25 years post-divorce. It will also summarize studies conducted by other researchers and present ideas found to be true from clinical interviews and following a group of children from 18 months post parental divorce to 25 years later. Other topics will include family functioning pre and post-divorce, the impact of father involvement post-divorce; as well as common behavioral issues present with children of parental divorce families. In conclusion a summary of how variations in home life, parenting style and personalities can affect the outcome of long term effects on children of parental divorce.
I. Introduction
Several studies have been conducted over the years analyzing the effects divorce has on children. This research has proved to be a valuable tool in the field of psychology. This year over one million children will experience parental divorce (Demo & Supple, 2003) and the effects can last a lifetime. Of those one million children fifty percent of them are under the age of six (Wallerstein & Lewis, 2004). II. Statistics
In the United States the divorce rate is over fifty percent (Portnoy, 2008). This means that over one half of all first marriages will end in divorce. Of the fifty percent that divorce, half to two-thirds of those adults will remarry, resulting in one in three children living with a step-parent at some time before the age of 19 (Portnoy, 2008). Half of all marriages that end in divorce involve minor children (Portnoy, 2008). Of the children currently living in the United States, 40 percent of them will
Elizabeth O’Connor
Psychology 210
Liberty University Online
Abstract
The purpose of this research paper is to examine the effects divorce has on children. This paper will look at several areas of child development and introduce some statistics on children affected by divorce. It will discuss pre and post-divorce family environments and the factors that lead to it, as well as the effects 25 years post-divorce. It will also summarize studies conducted by other researchers and present ideas found to be true from clinical interviews and following a group of children from 18 months post parental divorce to 25 years later. Other topics will include family functioning pre and post-divorce, the impact of father involvement post-divorce; as well as common behavioral issues present with children of parental divorce families. In conclusion a summary of how variations in home life, parenting style and personalities can affect the outcome of long term effects on children of parental divorce.
I. Introduction
Several studies have been conducted over the years analyzing the effects divorce has on children. This research has proved to be a valuable tool in the field of psychology. This year over one million children will experience parental divorce (Demo & Supple, 2003) and the effects can last a lifetime. Of those one million children fifty percent of them are under the age of six (Wallerstein & Lewis, 2004). II. Statistics
In the United States the divorce rate is over fifty percent (Portnoy, 2008). This means that over one half of all first marriages will end in divorce. Of the fifty percent that divorce, half to two-thirds of those adults will remarry, resulting in one in three children living with a step-parent at some time before the age of 19 (Portnoy, 2008). Half of all marriages that end in divorce involve minor children (Portnoy, 2008). Of the children currently living in the United States, 40 percent of them will
References: Amato, P. R. (2000, November). The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62, 1269-1287. Demo, D. H., & Supple, A. J. (2003). Divorce: Effects on Children. In J. J. Ponzetto, The International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family Relationships (pp. 475-479). New York: Macmillan. Desai, A. J. (2006-2007). How Could Divorce Affect my Kids? Retrieved July 18, 2012, from Focus on the Family: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce Hughes, R. J. (2005). The Effects of Divorce on Children. Parenting 24/7. Urbana, IL, United States of America: University of Illinois Extension. Retrieved from http://parenting247.org Jellinek, M. S. (2010). Recognize Effects of Divorce on Children. Family Practice News, 40(18), 19. Portnoy, S. M. (2008). The Psychology of Divorce: A Lawyers 's Primer, Part 2: The Effects of Divorce on Children. American Journal of Family Law, 21(4), pp. 126-134. Wallerstein, J. S., & Lewis, J. M. (2004). The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: Report of a 25 year study. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 21, 353-370.