Parents Who Divorce Negatively Impact Their Children
Parents who divorce negatively impact their children. Divorce rates rose a dramatic 79 percent in the United States between 1970 and 1977. Although these high rates have since declined, a high proportion of marriages still end in divorce. Divorce has far reaching effects on the children which include indulgence in smoking, poor math and social skills and a greater chance of being divorced when in adulthood. In a study published in the March 2013 edition of Public Health, researchers at the University of Toronto found that both sons and daughters of divorced families are significantly more likely to begin smoking than peers whose parents are married.
In an analysis of 19,000 Americans, men whose parents divorced before they turned 18 had 48 percent higher odds of smoking than men with intact families. Women had 39 percent higher odds of picking up the habit. A 2011 study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that children of divorced parents often fall behind their classmates in math and social skills, and are more likely to suffer anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem. The reason that math skills are affected is likely because learning math is cumulative. Researcher Hyun Sik Kim says, "If I do not understand that one plus one is two, then I cannot understand multiplication." With this, it’s more likely that the affected children will drop out of school.
University of Utah research Nicholas H. Wolfinger in 2005 released a study showing that children of divorce are more likely to divorce as adults. Despite aspiring to stable relationships, children of divorce are more likely to marry as teens, as well as marry someone who also comes from a divorced family. Wolfinger’s research suggests that couples in which one spouse has divorced parents may be up to twice as likely to divorce. If both partners experienced divorce as children they are three times more likely to divorce themselves.
Wolfinger said one of the reasons is that children from unstable families are more likely to marry young. Research studies conducted over time, especially Wallerstein’s 10-year follow-up, suggest that some effects of divorce are long lasting. A significant number of the young adults in the follow-up study appeared burdened by vivid memories of the marital break-up, feelings of sadness, continuing resentment at parents, and a sense of deprivation. Without judging or moralizing, the weight of the research shows that if it were an ideal world, children fare better in nurturing two-parent families than do those in single-parent and step families.
Paper For Above instruction
The impact of divorce on children is a substantial concern within psychological and sociological research. The data indicates that parental divorce not only influences immediate family dynamics but also exerts long-lasting effects on children's health, academic performance, and future relationships. This essay explores these impacts, emphasizing the importance of supportive environments and potential interventions.
During the late 20th century, divorce rates surged considerably, with increases of up to 79% in the United States between 1970 and 1977. While the trend has lessened somewhat, divorce remains prevalent and continues to shape family structures. The harm inflicted upon children by divorce has been well documented. For instance, research published in Public Health (2013) demonstrated that children from divorced families are significantly more likely to initiate smoking behaviors, with odds nearly 50% higher for sons and approximately 39% higher for daughters compared with their counterparts from intact families.
Furthermore, academic and social development appears to be compromised among children of divorced parents. A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011 indicated these children lag behind their peers in math and social skills, and are more susceptible to emotional difficulties such as anxiety and low self-esteem. The cumulative nature of learning, especially in subjects like mathematics, makes early developmental disruptions particularly detrimental. Hyun Sik Kim, a researcher involved in this study, emphasized the importance of foundational knowledge—like understanding basic arithmetic—as a prerequisite for learning more complex mathematical concepts. Children whose early educational experiences are disrupted are at increased risk of school dropout and limited future opportunities.
The implications of parental divorce extend beyond childhood, influencing adult relationship stability. Research by Nicholas H. Wolfinger (2005) revealed that children of divorced parents are significantly more likely to divorce themselves. Specifically, children from families with divorce are more likely to marry during adolescence and to marry partners also from divorced backgrounds. Wolfinger’s findings suggest that these factors compound, with couples in which one or both partners experienced parental divorce being more prone to experiencing their own marital dissolution—up to twice as likely if only one parent was divorced, and three times as likely if both parents divorced.
The long-term emotional and psychological effects further underscore the importance of stable family environments. Studies, such as Wallerstein’s 10-year follow-up research, indicate that many young adults carry vivid memories of their parents’ divorce, which contribute to ongoing feelings of sadness, resentment, and deprivation. These emotional scars highlight the need for comprehensive support systems for children experiencing divorce, including counseling and educational programs aimed at fostering resilience.
While societal shifts and legal changes have contributed to higher divorce rates, the research consistently underscores that children tend to fare better in stable, two-parent households. The adverse effects of divorce are multifaceted—affecting health behaviors, mental health, academic achievement, and future relationships—suggesting that policies supporting family stability and effective interventions for children facing family dissolution are essential. Investing in preventive measures and support services could mitigate many of these long-term negative outcomes, helping break the cycle of instability that perpetuates these issues.
References
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