Thus, placing them at higher risk for low academic achievements, depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and substance abuse or dependence. It is hypothesized, adolescents who witnessed parental separation/divorce are more likely to develop behavior problems and abuse illegal substances. For this assignment, I plan to review several scholarly journal articles to support the hypothesis, that parental separation and marital conflict places adolescent children at higher risk for developing or exhibiting both behavioral and substance abuse …show more content…
Divorce or parental separation causes irreparable harm to all parties involved, especially the adolescents. Although some may benefit from it in individual cases, it permanently weakens the family and the relationship between parents and adolescents. Divorcing during adolescences can cause several negative emotions such as bitterness, stress, anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, and abandonment issues. Fagan and Churchill (2012) states, parental separation can diminish the learning capacity and educational attainment causing academic and behavioral