DIVORCE EFFECT ON CHILDREN

Divorce Effect on Children



Divorce Effect on Children

Introduction

The family unit has changed significantly over the years. There is no 'typical' family anymore. In modern-day living, divorces have become more and more common. Divorce and life in a one-parent family are becoming increasingly common experiences in the lives of parents and children. The adoption of the new Divorce Act in 1968, which made divorces more accessible in all provinces/territories and allowed marriage breakdown as grounds for separation, the number of divorces increased dramatically.

Discussion

Research has unfolded reasons that cause divorces for instance, Age: early marriages prove to be immature decisions and partners finally decide to breakup. Legal changes, marital status of parents, background and role expectation, and occupations that demand more time are likely to be the chief stimulators of marital crashes. Marital breakdowns can be witnessed in cases of separation i.e. both partners deciding not to live together, empty shell marriages where the partners have no more emotional affection for one another but they still hold on to the marriage either for social grace or children. The extreme is the legal termination of marriage: Divorce. Previously divorce was considered a great social ill. But now the social tolerance has increased and the changing status of women, legal leniency, problems of interpersonal communication etc. have become general reasons for walking out of a marriage. The main grounds upon which the divorce is generally claimed are adultery, cruelty (domestic violence), and desertion. Women no longer have to live in unhappy marriages as they are financially independent and divorce is no longer a stigma rather divorce is seen as a realistic alternative to emotional damage to children in unhappy marriage.

Children -The most effected

It is important for parents to realize children will have different types of reactions. Some may be short-term reactions that are in response to the crisis nature of divorce. Others may be long-term reactions that could be either positive or negative depending again on how parents are able to help their children. Divorce impedes learning by disrupting productive study patterns as children are forced to move between domiciles, and by increasing anxiety and depression in both parents and children. Because of its impact on stable home life, divorce can diminish the capacity to learn, a principle demonstrated by the fact that children whose parents divorce have lower rates of graduation from high school and college and also complete fewer college courses

Given the prevalence of divorce, American children today are becoming weaker educationally, emotionally, and physically. Yet few are willing to point to divorce as a major contributor to these problems. Few policymakers like to dwell on the effects of divorce, but ignoring the problems will do little to change the culture of divorce.

Stressors of the Divorce Process

More than two decades ago, divorce was re conceptualized as a process extending over time that involved multiple changes and potential challenges for children, rather than as a single event. The number, severity, and duration of separation and divorce-engendered stressors were ...