Affects Of Divorce On Children

3 Pages 636 Words

Divorce is becoming an ever present problem in the developing world. Most societies accept the fact that where there is marriage there is divorce, and ours is no different. When one thinks of divorce they no longer think of torn families and broken promises, but lawsuits and child support. Statistics show that in the United States, one out of every two marriages ends in divorce. These climbing rates are alarming. They suggest a divorce epidemic in society today. This epidemic brings upon new economic problems such as the increasing number of single mothers on welfare, but the real concern should be focused on the children involved. Research has looked into the effects divorce has on child and it has been statically proven that a failed marriage brings upon a noticeable affect on the child involved.
For many children, the news that their parents are splitting up comes as a complete surprise. Many parents fail to explain to their children what is happening, either because they are too upset, or to relieved to notice the child’s perspective. Many parents are also unequipped to handle the psychological aspects, often treating all children the same despite age. The fact of the matter is age often determines how divorce will affect the kids. Very young children, under the age of three, often don’t understand what is going on. Those a bit older often feel they are to blame, and are afraid of losing the other parent. They cling to their parent, have nightmares, and need endless reassurance. Younger children tend to fantasize a great deal about their parents getting back together whereas for older children, it is a different perspective.
Preadolescent children often fail to see divorce as a logical solution and feel that their parents should stay together. For adolescents, divorce may be seen as a relief in some instances, however there is pain. Research indicates, and experts agree that divorce is a very painful transition in ...