Effects of Divorce on Children's Development



Effects of Divorce on Children's Development

Introduction

What does divorce mean for children? Divorce means “the break-up of a family,” negative effects and for some, the biggest loss of a loved one in their lives. Raising a child could be very challenging for a single individual. There are numerous components that leverage the development of children dwelling with lone parent. These include occupation, earnings, parent's mind-set and demeanor, contact with the other parent, discrimination, learning, parent's age and support from the extended family and friends (Cantrell, & Sprenkle, 1989).

Impact of divorce on the children

The researches and different sources prove that there are various effects that are noticed in children as a result of divorce, which includes psychological, emotional and social effects. These children suffer from a variety of psychological problems like violence, denial, guilt, low self-esteem, and physical problems. In addition, they also suffer of emotional symptoms of sadness, loneliness, fearful of being abandoned, insecurity, and rejection, child will also digress to rebellion, guilt, escapism, withdrawal, stress, depression. Other studies argue that children suffer social effects such as having hard time establishing relationship in their adolescence.

According to the studies, the life standard because of the divorce reduces down which affects the social and economic stability of the children. The absence of a father from the life of the children and the lack of support financially and emotionally, the negligence, busy routine, lack of coordination damages even more than the psychological and emotional development the children's lives (Laugesen, & Bukowski, 2003).

In addition, they may engage in early sexual activity, unwanted pregnancy, and/or use of drugs, early adolescent delinquency and not only unsuccessful academic performance but actually dropping out from the school because of a lower performance due to their poor education level. All these are the results of the parent's divorce.

The effects of divorce are mostly negative because of the different risk factors involved. However “positive factors” exist and promote well-being of children who posses Intellectual characteristics, high self-esteem, and other personal and social skills are going to be more successful in reflecting a positive coping than children who lack these characteristics. Those children who present helplessness, anxiety, Insecurity, or anti-social behaviors tend to show negative effects worsen after the divorce. However, they can improve their characteristics and/or skills if they receive social support and problem-solving skills from professionals in the field. . Children feel better psychological and emotional knowing if they have personal and social skills, including physically attractive, easy-going temperaments and feelings that are competitive and appealing to others (Koerner, & Escalante, 2004).

The anger and depression are counted as the short term reactions if the action is taken at the correct time. This would ultimately affect for the long term and the children traits would adopt these traits. These are mainly due to the absence of care and affection that are required by the children from both the parents, which due to divorce splits up and negatively impact the children's ...