The Effects of Divorce on Children
By:
IC
The effects of divorce on children could be
massive, but this could be helped. The most common causes for
divorce are family problems, physical or emotional abuse,
extramarital affairs, work stress and vices. Below are types of
divorces you might want to familiarize with:
-
Legal divorce – is the lawful end of your
marriage where you are allowed to remarry.
-
Economic divorce – involves the splitting
of assets i.e.: money and property.
-
Co-parental divorce – is a type of
divorce where both parents agree to support their child even
though they no longer have spousal support for each other.
Common effects of divorce on children are
psychological problems, poor intellectual development and affected
parent-child relationships.
Psychological Effects:
The psychological effects of divorce on
children can affect children as young as 6 years of age. Young
children can develop anxiety disorders where they experience
overwhelming fear of being abandoned. Their feelings of isolation
and sadness can also manifest through other problems such as
eating disorders.
Poor Intellectual Development:
Children of divorced parents usually
display insecurity, neediness, irritability and a constant craving
for attention. These types of behavior consequently lead to
aggressiveness towards peers, resulting in poor relationships with
others. A child's cognitive skills can also become poor. His or
her overall academic performance suffers, thus leading to low
self-worth and depression later in life.
Affected Parent-Child Relationships:
Oftentimes children will blame themselves
for what happened between their parents. They also start to
question their moral values and become either rebellious or overly
obedient at any point in time.
The effects of divorce on children and
teens could be negative or positive depending on the child's
coping strategies. Teens often engage in extravagant, promiscuous
activities and form no concept of an ideal parent. They themselves
are distressed about their future career, marriage and kids. But
some do take this as a learning experience and attempt to make
better decisions in the future.
Here are common concerns experienced by
children of divorced parents:
-
Financial worries – Children are
especially worried about their future career and finances if
they feel that their parents divorced because of money problems.
-
Marital concerns – Children usually view
failed relationships as somehow having an association with their
parents' failed relationship. Because of this, they tend to
question marriage a lot in fear of mirroring their parents'
divorce.
-
Role or status anxiety – Children can
also try to play the role of either parent in attempts to "mend"
their parents' problems. This is considered to be unhealthy
especially in adolescents.
How to Relieve the Negative Effects of
Divorce on Children:
Allow your child to speak openly to
friends, family members or counselors regarding the divorce in the
family. Most children react towards divorce by spending more time
outside their home. This can have a good effect, but it can also
put them in a vulnerable position where less discipline can lead
to drug or alcohol abuse. You should therefore still draw some
boundaries and continue building a relationship with your child.
Article Source:
http://www.articlerich.com
What are the
effects of divorce on children? Is your child coping well?
Find out from the site of Isha Rowd on
divorce and kids.