Most divorced parents view their divorce as a battle against the other; using their child as leverage can be a result of this. Conflict can range from sending churlish messages to one another through the child and/or talking negatively about the other parent in the presence of the child. As indicated in the American Journal of Family law, Sanford Portnoy reports that “twenty to twenty-five percent of divorced couples continue the conflict post-divorce” (124-136). This continuation of conflict has been deemed by Portnoy to be one of the “biggest predictors of poor outcome for children” (124-136). In effect, children may find the adjustment to life after the divorce of their parents challenging. In some cases, relationships between the child and one or both parents may deteriorate due to the encouragement of viewing one parent negatively by the other; lack of parent-child ties can lead to the adolescent feeling neglected and acting out in hopes of receiving …show more content…
Parents who choose to get divorced do so with the intentions to end an ongoing feud with their spouse and make for a happier life apart from each other. However, when neglect becomes a factor of a divorce, the betterment of a family unit will become compromised. While parents may have good intentions by ending a toxic relationship, they may overlook the significance of putting their child’s needs above their own; effectively causing the child to endure emotional distress and disorder. With regard to the child’s development of future relationships, research has shown that “children of divorce are more likely to experience marital instability and a slight elevation in their own divorce rates” (Portnoy, 124-136). Influences such as divorce caused by infidelity may lead to trust and commitment issues. As to conclude, the effects of divorce on children are of paramount consequences. Conflictual homes have the ability to hinder a child’s development through the lack of parental coherence, institution of new spouses, and ineffective parenting. Later in life, he/she will undoubtedly approach their relationships in the manner they grew up witnessing, because for them that will be the only norm. Thus, ultimately, divorce can have an overall negative effect, effecting parties included in the long