Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Adolescent Boys and Girls
Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Adolescent Boys and Girls
Undra Parker
Wayland Baptist University
Abstract
Parental divorce can result in devastating effects on children. These children suffer tremendous long-term consequences as a result of an event that is not their doing. This paper reviews literature and opinions concerning the long-term effects of divorce on adolescents. The paper outlines four major areas of interest: aggression as a result of parental conflict and the different types associated with boys and girls, depression in the lives of boys and girls in its various forms, the choice boys and girls make to marry or not later in life and the possibility of adolescents expressing parental alienation. The results of this study show that these adolescent boys and girls are affected by their parents divorce in all these areas. In addition to presenting the different findings, the paper will help parents, community workers and others that work with children of divorced parents better understand the importance these long-term effects has on adolescents.
Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Adolescent Boys and Girls
There is much interest among clinicians, researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and the community concerning the effects of divorce on children [ (Amato, 2001) ]. When children are involved in a divorce it can cause the child to have poor educational success, psychological suffering, misbehavior with the increased possibility of recidivism, substance abuse, sexual activity, depression, and suicidal tendency [ (Dreman, 2000; Portnoy S. M., 2008; Wauterickx, Gouwy, & Bracke, 2006; Kelly & Emery, 2003; Bulduc, Caron, & Logue, 2007) ]. Children of divorced parents, according to Portnoy [ (2008, p. 127) ], “exhibits particularly difficulties in their adult intimate relationships, including lower levels of marital satisfaction, more marital discord, more thoughts of divorce and more divorce.” Research supports the philosophy that
Undra Parker
Wayland Baptist University
Abstract
Parental divorce can result in devastating effects on children. These children suffer tremendous long-term consequences as a result of an event that is not their doing. This paper reviews literature and opinions concerning the long-term effects of divorce on adolescents. The paper outlines four major areas of interest: aggression as a result of parental conflict and the different types associated with boys and girls, depression in the lives of boys and girls in its various forms, the choice boys and girls make to marry or not later in life and the possibility of adolescents expressing parental alienation. The results of this study show that these adolescent boys and girls are affected by their parents divorce in all these areas. In addition to presenting the different findings, the paper will help parents, community workers and others that work with children of divorced parents better understand the importance these long-term effects has on adolescents.
Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Adolescent Boys and Girls
There is much interest among clinicians, researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and the community concerning the effects of divorce on children [ (Amato, 2001) ]. When children are involved in a divorce it can cause the child to have poor educational success, psychological suffering, misbehavior with the increased possibility of recidivism, substance abuse, sexual activity, depression, and suicidal tendency [ (Dreman, 2000; Portnoy S. M., 2008; Wauterickx, Gouwy, & Bracke, 2006; Kelly & Emery, 2003; Bulduc, Caron, & Logue, 2007) ]. Children of divorced parents, according to Portnoy [ (2008, p. 127) ], “exhibits particularly difficulties in their adult intimate relationships, including lower levels of marital satisfaction, more marital discord, more thoughts of divorce and more divorce.” Research supports the philosophy that
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