What Are The Negative Effects of Divorce on Children?
Most children are confused, afraid, hurt, sad, angry, and anxious when they sense or are told about their parents' divorce. Interestingly, these are the same emotions that their parents often experience during the divorce process. It is no secret that there are many possible negative effects children experience both during and after a divorce. These negative effects are exacerbated when parents are fighting over "custody" and minimized when parents make parental decisions together, out of sincere concern for their children's needs. The list of potential negative effects is long and includes:
o Sadness and depression
o Anger, aggression, and acting out
o Opposition and non-compliance
o Impulsivity
o Perceived parental loss
o Less parental supervision, consistent discipline and/or contact
o Loss of extended family relationships
o Lower academic achievement
o Interpersonal conflict
o Economic difficulty
o Stress
o Lower self-concept
o Problems with social adjustment
What …show more content…
However, the fact that they have divorced does not end the parenting relationship. Even though they do not live together, they often have contact in relation to the children at least until the youngest child is eighteen and often longer. In a custody battle, the parents are trying to "prove" which parent is the best parent, instead of each parent being the best parent they can be. Instead of managing their negative emotions and working together to find the best ways to utilize both parents' strengths, parents often put their children in the middle and play "tug-a-war". As this legal war goes on each parent uses their time, energy, and resources to "fight" in court over who is the best. As they do this, they often belittle and try to discredit the other parent. What are the messages children getting from this "parental behavior"? Children
Most children are confused, afraid, hurt, sad, angry, and anxious when they sense or are told about their parents' divorce. Interestingly, these are the same emotions that their parents often experience during the divorce process. It is no secret that there are many possible negative effects children experience both during and after a divorce. These negative effects are exacerbated when parents are fighting over "custody" and minimized when parents make parental decisions together, out of sincere concern for their children's needs. The list of potential negative effects is long and includes:
o Sadness and depression
o Anger, aggression, and acting out
o Opposition and non-compliance
o Impulsivity
o Perceived parental loss
o Less parental supervision, consistent discipline and/or contact
o Loss of extended family relationships
o Lower academic achievement
o Interpersonal conflict
o Economic difficulty
o Stress
o Lower self-concept
o Problems with social adjustment
What …show more content…
However, the fact that they have divorced does not end the parenting relationship. Even though they do not live together, they often have contact in relation to the children at least until the youngest child is eighteen and often longer. In a custody battle, the parents are trying to "prove" which parent is the best parent, instead of each parent being the best parent they can be. Instead of managing their negative emotions and working together to find the best ways to utilize both parents' strengths, parents often put their children in the middle and play "tug-a-war". As this legal war goes on each parent uses their time, energy, and resources to "fight" in court over who is the best. As they do this, they often belittle and try to discredit the other parent. What are the messages children getting from this "parental behavior"? Children