Assess The Impact Of Divorce On Children Under The Age Of 18
Impact of Divorce on Children Under The Age of 18
Psychology 210
Liberty University
Sharon Brown
Abstract
Divorce is one of the most serious social problems that America is facing today. The divorce rate is constantly growing and in present days it is extremely high. Presently over half of marriages end in divorce, many of these involve children. Families are often ruined by divorce because this leaves many children in the middle, being separated from one of the parents, therefore they cannot continue a family life as before, everything changes with divorce. With divorced parents children are vulnerable to lifelong negative effects on their development as well as with their ability to grow into healthy, mature adults. This paper …show more content…
The reality of divorce in this lifetime is as real as it gets. Two out of three children will experience the divorce of their parents before they reach the age of 18. Through the conflict, fighting, and confusion children are often not thought about through the divorce process. Divorce hurts children both short-term and long-term. Divorce affects all children on some level.
According to recent studies, over one million children in the United States will experience the divorce of their parents this year. Divorce for children, at least for the first two years, can shatter a child 's universe setting him or her adrift on an ocean of uncertainty and distress. They wonder if they will see the absent parent again? Will they see their friends again? Some children are also in danger of developing emotional problems that have consequences that go well beyond their adolescence and into their …show more content…
Nevertheless they often have strong reactions to their parents ' divorce. They may feel abandoned, anxious, and depressed. Their use of drugs and alcohol may increase and also can have problems sleeping and eating and focusing on their school work or studies. They are struggling with their own identities and trying to figure out who they are. Older adolescents are trying to develop a self-image as a unique person so that they can enter adulthood with self-confidence. When parents divorce, the adolescent who is developing identity can be thrown into chaos and their self-confidence may be undermined. Without a clear path to a mature identity they can find a variety of ways to get in trouble such as school. They get lower grades, do poorly on achievements tests, have lower educational aspirations, and adolescents from divorced families often drop out of school. They are not socially competent, they get into trouble with other people and they often show behavior problems such as being more aggressive and antisocial. Adolescents have more of a tendency to commit more delinquent acts of shoplifting, damaging school property, running away from home, fighting, stealing, and lying. Not only do they have these externalizing problems but they also have internalizing problems such as being more anxious, withdrawn, depressed and having
Psychology 210
Liberty University
Sharon Brown
Abstract
Divorce is one of the most serious social problems that America is facing today. The divorce rate is constantly growing and in present days it is extremely high. Presently over half of marriages end in divorce, many of these involve children. Families are often ruined by divorce because this leaves many children in the middle, being separated from one of the parents, therefore they cannot continue a family life as before, everything changes with divorce. With divorced parents children are vulnerable to lifelong negative effects on their development as well as with their ability to grow into healthy, mature adults. This paper …show more content…
The reality of divorce in this lifetime is as real as it gets. Two out of three children will experience the divorce of their parents before they reach the age of 18. Through the conflict, fighting, and confusion children are often not thought about through the divorce process. Divorce hurts children both short-term and long-term. Divorce affects all children on some level.
According to recent studies, over one million children in the United States will experience the divorce of their parents this year. Divorce for children, at least for the first two years, can shatter a child 's universe setting him or her adrift on an ocean of uncertainty and distress. They wonder if they will see the absent parent again? Will they see their friends again? Some children are also in danger of developing emotional problems that have consequences that go well beyond their adolescence and into their …show more content…
Nevertheless they often have strong reactions to their parents ' divorce. They may feel abandoned, anxious, and depressed. Their use of drugs and alcohol may increase and also can have problems sleeping and eating and focusing on their school work or studies. They are struggling with their own identities and trying to figure out who they are. Older adolescents are trying to develop a self-image as a unique person so that they can enter adulthood with self-confidence. When parents divorce, the adolescent who is developing identity can be thrown into chaos and their self-confidence may be undermined. Without a clear path to a mature identity they can find a variety of ways to get in trouble such as school. They get lower grades, do poorly on achievements tests, have lower educational aspirations, and adolescents from divorced families often drop out of school. They are not socially competent, they get into trouble with other people and they often show behavior problems such as being more aggressive and antisocial. Adolescents have more of a tendency to commit more delinquent acts of shoplifting, damaging school property, running away from home, fighting, stealing, and lying. Not only do they have these externalizing problems but they also have internalizing problems such as being more anxious, withdrawn, depressed and having