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Running Head: DIVORCE
The Impact of Divorce on The Child
Introduction
Divorce is the action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage. (Merriam-Webster,
2019). Divorce is conceptualized as the process that breaks up a family unit and affects all the
parties involved. Divorce can have both a positive and negative affect on the individuals and the
family unit. Some divorces can be simple in nature while others can be long and drawn out,
especially when children are involved. Children have a more difficult time conceptualizing
divorce than the adults whom are involved. What if the focus was on the children versus the
selfish feelings of the adults? In some cases, divorce is the best solution, but it certainly is not
the only solution. “Divorce allows parents to shield their children from conflict but precludes
joint time spent by parents with their children.” (Tartari, 2015). Divorce is important to the field
of human development because children can be affected socially, mentally, and emotionally etc.
This impact assignment will discuss the effects of divorce on children and their development.
According to the article by Melissa Tartari, “approximately four out of ten children will
experience the divorce of their parents before reaching adulthood, and roughly 1.5
million children experience their parents' divorce every year in the United States (Kreider
and Fields, 2005). These statistics raise concerns because a large empirical literature in
sociology, developmental psychology, and economics shows that offspring of divorced
parents fare worse than offspring of married parents along many dimensions. For
instance, conditional on observed family characteristics, children of divorced parents tend
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Running Head: DIVORCE
to have lower test scores, lower educational achievement, and a higher likelihood of
dropping out of high school (Tartari, 2015).”
Developmental Impact
Divorce can have an impact on a child’s development at any age if the child is made
aware of what is taking place. “Children whose parents divorce (or divorce and remarry) have
higher rates of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive problems than children whose parents
maintain a stable marriage (the “continuously married”) (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015).” It would
not be fair to a child to be able to conceptualize the aspects of divorce when they are still trying
to learn who they are and adapt to their learning environments. According to Broderick and
Blewitt, “In the early preschool years, have a sense that they and others have mental states, such
as thoughts, desires, feelings, and plans.” (2015). If a child as young as two can internalize who
they are, then they can also sense the negative aspects of a divorce if the environment becomes
hostile.
Transitioning from a two-parent household to a single part can be mind-boggling for
anyone, let alone a child. Children will then lose trust in any individual who has been a safety
net for them. “Perhaps the most problematic traumatic experiences for young children are
perpetrated by caregivers who abuse children who are counting on them to be their safe havens.”
(Broderick & Blewitt, 2017, p 156) Imagine a child in a hostile family environment, most likely
that child will mimic the same behaviors with their peers. “Another likely explanation is that
children often feel they are to blame for the fighting, silent, or unpleasant relationship that goes
on between their parents.” (Hashemi & Homayuni, 2017). Children deserve the right to build a
secure foundation with each parent individually.
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Running Head: DIVORCE
Divorce can impact a child development cognitively, socially, emotionally. It can also
impact the child’s relationship and interactions with peers and other adult figures. “Parental
divorce is a highly prevalent risk factor for multiple mental health and substance abuse problems
for children and youth.” (Boring et al., 2015) Trust is the key to establishing a healthy
relationship with a child. It’s often displayed in infants and toddlers when they are separated
from their parents for any reason. Children require a lot of nurturing, reassurance, love, peace,
and trust. In most cases, children are fully reliant on their parents.
According to the article written by authors Lawrence Jackson & Stephen Fife, “in these
situations, the behavior modeled by parents not only affects their children, but shapes how their
children interact with others, including romantic partners. Social learning theory suggests parents
model attitudes and ways of interacting that children might implement in stressful relationship
situations. In situations of divorce, parents might have modeled ineffective or negative
interpersonal relationship patterns that children internalize and replicate in their own adult
relationships. Likewise, social learning theory also illustrates how children with positive, healthy
divorce adjustment achieve this through the application of positive familial social support.”
(Jackson & Fife, 2018)
From birth to age three, children are learning to adapt and trust the adult figures in their
lives. “Even in the first hours after birth, mothers and other caregivers interact with infants in
ways that are likely to heighten positive affect and attention or to sooth negative affect.”
(Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). During this stage, the child’s emotional growth is at a standstill
because their secure nurturing environment becomes disrupted.
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Running Head: DIVORCE
Around the ages three to five years old, children are coming into themselves while still
being reliant on the nurturing of their support system. This is the critical stage of a child’s life.
Experiencing divorce during this stage can definitely affect a child development. If the child is
in a negative abusive environment, they will in turn act out the same behaviors amongst their
peers. “Furthermore, watching the martial conflict can be emotionally disturbing for children
and challenge their abilities to control their emotions. (Tartari, 2015). Not only will the child be
challenged cognitively but it can also alter their behavioral decisions. Whereas, children in the
six to nine age range are seeking independence and getting more attached to their peers by
building friendships and safe havens outside of the home. Children ten and up are seeking more
peer support than parental. Kids in this age group (ten & up) can be more affected because they
have to deal with being separated from not only their families but their peers as well, especially
if the parents are splitting custody. According to the study conducted by author Melissa Tartari,
“the average number of days spent by a 10- to 14-year-old child with his or her father is lower
than the time spent with his or her mother. Also, a child spends more time with a parent, be it the
mother or the father, when parents are married as opposed to divorced.” (2015). Adolescent
children are more prone to blaming themselves, they experience anger and disconnect.
Adolescents become the burden barrier for the parents.
Faith and Professional Perspectives
From a biblical standpoint, divorce should only be on the grounds of adultery and or
abuse. “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this cause
shall a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one
flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let
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Running Head: DIVORCE
no man put asunder.” (Mark 10:6-9, KJV). “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is
good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should
marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (1 Corinthians 7:8, NIV). Any
professional in the human services field should first explore the religious beliefs of the family.
Then discuss whether or not there is a family history of divorce. The professional should remain
neutral at all times and provide a safe haven for the family, as well as the child. Part of the
process would be to explain divorce and the different impacts that it can have on the child(ren).
Resources
Author Claudia Lament recalls the impact of divorce on children from the child whom is
now an adult. This would be a good read because it tells a story from the eyes of the child(ren)
whom were affected by divorce, who are now adults. The interesting part is that some of the
individuals who were products of divorce parents, are now divorced as well. In this reading Dr.
Lament states, “If that adult’s younger self had an affective system that was especially labile, or
its opposite, one that held a tight bridle on emotional expression, either one would have burdened
her experience of the breakup of her family unit in a way that is not comparable to a child with a
steadier regulation of impulse and affect.” (2019) https://www-tandfonline-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/doi/full/10.1080/00797308.2019.1556022
Another good resource would a book written by Michael Laycock entitled, Effects of
Divorce on Children. This book is available for purchase on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Effects-Divorce-Children-Michael-Laycock-ebook/dp/B0049P1NF8.
It’s also an E-Book so it can be downloaded on your kindle or electronic device with the kindle
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Running Head: DIVORCE
reading application available. Michael is a lawyer as well as a family mediator, so the reader can
see things from the eyes of the professional.
Referrals
https://www.essencecare.org/
Essence of Care is a mental health behavioral agency located in Stone Mountain, GA. They
provide therapy for adults as well as children and adolescents. First step for an individual to
follow in order to receive services is to get a referral. Next, the individual will go through the
intake screening process. The purpose of the screening process is to address the needs of the
clients. Providers will meet you out in the community, as well as in the comfort of your home.
Services provided are not just limited to those suffering from a mental illness. Essence of Care
provides services with a client centered focus. “ Our commitment is to provide individuals in
our care and their families with a hopeful future.” (Essence of Care, 2019)
https://thepottershouseinc.org/
“Our goal is to provide unique and specific treatment approaches to the individuals we serve in
a safe and positive environment.” (Potter’s House Inc., 2019). The unique thing about the
Potter’s House is that they are Christian-based therapeutic agency. They have licensed therapist,
who provide both individual and family therapy sessions. The Potter’s House provides services
to individuals within the Atlanta area, which includes all of the major counties. They offer 11
different programs that assist the clients with their basic needs.
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Running Head: DIVORCE
I recommend these two agencies because they both focus not only on the individuals needs but
the needs of the family as well.
References:
Boring, J. L., Sandler, I. N., Tein, J., Horan, J. J., & Vélez, C. E. (2015). Children of divorce-
coping with divorce: A randomized control trial of an online prevention program for
youth experiencing parental divorce. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,
83(5), 999-1005. doi:10.1037/a0039567
Broderick, P. and Blewitt, P. (2015). The Life Span: Human development for helping
professionals. 4th. Pearson Education, Inc.
Divorce. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2019, from https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/divorce.
Hashemi, L., & Homayuni, H. (2017). Emotional divorce: Child's well-being. Journal of Divorce
& Remarriage, 58(8), 631-644. doi:10.1080/10502556.2016.1160483
Jackson, Lawrence J. & Fife, Stephen T. (2018) The Impact of Parental Divorce: The
Relationship Between Social Support and Confidence Levels in Young Adults, Journal of
Divorce & Remarriage, 59:2, 123-140, DOI: 10.1080/10502556.2017.1402652
Lament, C. (2019). The impact of divorce on children: The view from the perch of
