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Effect of Divorce on Children

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Effect of Divorce on Children
Abstract
The divorce rate in the United States is believed to be around fifty percent. Forty percent of the children in this country will experience parental divorce. Children who experience parental divorce are impacted in many different ways including emotionally, academically, and socially. The effects that divorce have on children can remain with them into adulthood. It is important to understand that children are affected just as much as, if not more than, their parents when going through a divorce. They have to withstand many changes in their lives, including moving, having only one parent around at all times, and often times blame themselves for the divorce. While this can be a traumatic experience for children, there are steps that can be taken to make the divorce process easier for them. While these steps will not eliminate all of the negative effects that divorce has on children, it will teach them how to cope with the situation.

Divorce affects millions of families throughout the world. The United States has the highest occurrence of divorce in the world, with the highest number of children affected. Forty percent of the children in this country will experience parental divorce. Children experiencing parental divorce will go through emotional phases similar to those of the parents, but the effects of divorce last much longer for children than they do for the adults. The emotional impact of divorce on children can last well into their adulthood. Children who experience parental divorce exhibit more conduct problems. Children with conduct problems are more likely to engage in adolescent delinquent behavior. They have lower academic achievement, and are more likely to drop out of school. This can cause a them to have a lower level of education which will affect their future career. Children often blame themselves for their parents divorce. It is important to reassure children that they

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