Depression In Children

4 Pages 978 Words

Depression in Children of Divorced Parents

The statistics for divorce in the Y2K era suggest that nearly sixty percent of marriages end in divorce. Given this startling figure, the assumption can be made that many children will experience some effects caused by the life-changing event called divorce. What is it exactly about divorce that causes negative consequences for the children? In what ways will these children be effected? Will these effects show externally? The unsettling fact is: young children of divorced parents face great psychological challenges due to the environmental conditions and changes associated with divorce, more commonly, depression.
Parent conflict appears to have a pronounced effect on the coping efforts of children. The intense anxiety and anger between some parents in the early stages of divorce is real. Often times parents allow their children to get in the middle of fierce verbal confrontation between them. Berating the other parent in front of the child is another way of placing the child in an unfair position, which in essence is expecting the child to choose between the parents. A less tangible example of parental conflict is the way two opposite genders relate to one another in the presence of the children. Mothers may treat fathers as if they are less important and undeserving of respect, just the opposite can apply too. Any form of parental conflict, no matter what degree, lends to a difficult adjustment period for the children involved.
The deterioration in parent-child relationships after divorce is another leading cause in maladjustment for children, causing them to become despondent. With divorce comes a parenting plan of some kind. A child may experience shared custody between both parents and custody by one parent with visitation by the other parent. Variations of these plans can be included or added at different times in the child’s life depending on special circumstances. ...