--Original published at Miguel's College Blog

The number of divorces has increased over the past couple of years for a myriad of reasons. It may be generational, religious, or a societal paradigm shift that accepts divorce more easily. Whatever the case may be, divorce changes the dynamic of a family. Children are caught in the crossfire of pre-divorced parents and are left confused when the parents do divorce. Whether or not children are negatively or positively affected by divorce has been a consistent topic of debate.

An article by Dr. Jann Gumbiner of Psychology Today argues that no matter the outcome of the divorce, the divorce destroys a child’s concept of a family and further negatively affects the child. Dr. Gumbiner is a psychologist and a daughter of a divorce so her experience with divorce is not only firsthand, but also researched and studied. Dr. Gumbiner shares that after divorce, children feel a sense of self blame for the failed marriage. Even older or intelligent children are left even with a small sense of guilt that the divorce happened to their family. Along with the confusion, children were more prone to partake in rebellious behavior because of the lack of parental supervision. Dr. Gumbiner responded to how people in the 70’s thought that getting divorced was okay for self growth as being selfish. She wonders why parents would put their children at risk for their own dream of happiness. Children are dependent on adults, while adults are supposed to be the responsible figure that influences their children in a positive way. Dr. Gumbiner also brings up the point that children of divorce suffer long term consequences when it comes to building relationships. Children of divorce are more likely to divorce and go into relationships cautious about trusting others.

Another article that supports the perspective that children are negatively impacted by divorce comes from the Institute of Family Studies. The author, Harry Benson, is a communications director of the Marriage Foundation, a foundation that educates and strives to help people think about their relational choices. Benson shares two main reasons why a divorce can damage a child. The first reason is that after a divorce, the child witnesses a drastic change in economical stability.  Family income is split and may impact the child’s way of life. Resources become limited and this type of stress not only affects the parent, but also the child. To add to this, single parents have to adjust their parenting style and may have to take on both roles of the parent, further confusing the child’s interpretation of parenting roles. The second reason is that children perceive divorce differently from their parents. The parent’s decision to separate is obvious between the two, while the child is kept in the dark up until the separation. This confuses the child as it brings a sense of self blame and affects the child’s perception of relationships when they get older. Benson adds that another aspect of confusion can come when the parents get along after the separation. The child only sees that the parents are cooperating, so why was it necessary to separate?

While the past two articles have shown how divorce negatively impacts children, there is still debate on the positive impacts that divorce can have on not only the child, but also the parents. An article by Wendy Paris of Psychology Today shares a study by Cambridge University professor Michael Lamb that supports positive outcomes of children after divorce. The study showed that children are well off when they can have good relationships with both parents, even if the parents are not living in the same house. Also, children benefit from having parents that are emotionally stable. This allows a safe, stable environment for the child to thrive in. Lastly, the study showed that children benefit with adequate resources like food, housing, and social support, but do not have to be provided by parents that are living under the same roof. Paris shares that after her own divorce, she was able to  balance co-parenting through structured routines, thoughtful communication between parents, and being emotionally present for her children. By having separated parents that can cooperate and support their children, the children are allowed to thrive and create a better understanding of relationships.

Another article by Brette Sember, an author for the Huffington Post, shares how a divorce might be better than staying in a toxic marriage. Sember was a former divorce attorney, mediator, and law guardian so she has interacted with many families going through separation that allows her to share a unique perspective on divorce. Sember talks about how staying married “for this kids” is toxic because the children are exposed to a volatile environment. Arguments, tension, and possibly violence are created under one roof and a child absorbs all of the negative energy, resulting in possible replication of the environment when they are older. By separating, there are benefits that the child are exposed to such as two homes where arguments do not take place. Sember shares that although two homes may be an adjustment, having two homes where negative emotions are not present allows children to grow, without having to go around negativity. Another benefit through separation is the overall calmer emotional baseline. After the separation, the parents have found a new normal and the tension has subsided, allowing everyone to settle down. Having happy parents is one of the main benefits of separating. The parents’ overall happiness allows children to feel safe, feel happy, and learn that separation does not always have to have a negative end to it.

Personally, I think that divorce should be an option whenever all other resources have been exhausted. I think that it is important that as adults and parents, they should try and do whatever they must to fix their marriage before deciding to separate. Also, it is incredibly important for the parents to keep their children informed of the situation at hand so that they are not blindsided by any decision that may happen within the family. Divorce is a route that should be tread carefully because of the repercussions that may occur to the children. Children have the right to know what is happening to their family.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201110/divorce-hurts-children-even-grown-ones

https://ifstudies.org/blog/when-and-why-divorce-hurts-kids

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/splitopia/201503/yes-you-can-raise-happy-children-after-divorce

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/brette-sember/why-a-good-divorce-is-better-than-a-bad-marriage-for-kids_b_6925236.html

--Original published at Kate's College Blog

Children across the globe grow up in very different households based on parenting styles, household incomes, and geographical locations. Divorce has become more common, which as a result causes children to either live with one parent or flip back and forth between the two. There are many controversies revolving around how divorce affects children, saying that it is harmful for them or there are no serious effects.

The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health created a journal of children’s reactions to parental separation and divorce. The journal discusses how children face parental separation, anxiety, depression, and deal with custody arrangements due to shared parenting. The first argument made was that children, of all ages, deal with negative effects and have different reactions due to parental separation. Following a parents separation, children may regress and show signs of irritability, anxiety, and distress. In these cases, the child may blame themselves for the separation of their parents, so it is the parents job to reassure it is not the child’s fault and they are loved by both parents. The article highlights many negative effects that a divorce has on a child mentally and physically. Overall, I think that the source is credible because it is a national library of medicine and health and uses resources from studies and other scholarly research.

The Feldstein Family Law Group also has an article regarding the negative impacts of getting a divorce. This article breaks down the short-term and long-term effects it may leave on the child. Like the other article, it discusses that the child may think that it is their fault and feel guilty or responsible for the divorce. This article also states that along with guilt, the child may become increasingly violent or aggressive, lashing out at the parents, family members, teachers, or even friends. They also discuss that the child may create social and cognitive problems along with emotional problems. They may close themselves in and feel depressed or abandoned. They could also have difficulty focusing in school and after school activities that could negatively affect their academic performance. All of these are short-term effects on children, and most effects are short term until the child adjusts to their new life style and it becomes part of who they are. However, there can be long-term effects of getting a divorce. As the child grows up, they may experience behavioral problems, experience separation, suffer from drug or alcohol addictions, and even experience a socio-economic disadvantage from living in a household that only runs on one income. All of these problems are not true for every child and some children may have more extreme effects than others, but overall there are many negative consequences for getting a divorce. This source is credible because it is a known law group that focuses on family law problems. Their facts are reliable and are aimed to help families overcome their difficulties.

On the other hand, there are many researchers that argue that divorce does not have create any serious consequences for the child. Psychology Today has an article  stating that divorce doesn’t harm children, it is the parents fighting that does the damage on the child. They state that regardless of whether the parents are together or not, if they are fighting, the children will suffer. The article states that getting a divorce has no impact on the child, the truth behind what causes negative impacts on the child is if the parents argue often and the child experiences great tension while growing up. In some cases, divorce can actually be a relief to the child because that tension is finally broken. There are many factors that cause tension in households: socio-economic status, cultures, ages of the children, and many more. The child may feel more angry or sad when their parents are fighting all the time, so a divorce would actually be a positive impact on the child. This is a credible source because they have many references and citations to books and research regarding the effects of divorce and have references to doctors research on divorce and how it impacts the child’s health and stability.

The Washington Post also has an article stating that divorce does not always harm the child. They examined three themes that were common in households that dealt with divorce. The first theme was that some children are raised in troubled families that would have caused them greater problems if their parents stayed together. A common mistake that many people have is that they think that all the problems come after the divorce, when in reality the problems were because of the disorganized family unit from before the divorce.  The second theme was that all children are different, even within the same family, in temperament and relations to other family members. Children across the globe deal with stress, anger, and sadness differently and how they let it affect them. Some children find a positive thing, like sports or art, or a person that they cling to in order to insulate them from their trauma of their parents divorce. Finally, the third theme was that the breakup unfolds very differently from family to family. Divorce is a long process that continues for years afterward. How the process is played out, whether that be negatively or positively, will gear how the child is affected in the long run. This post was a credible source because it states statistics from other research and looked at studies to find three common themes that were in most divorce cases.

I think that divorce is different for every family that goes through it. Overall however, I think that parents getting a divorce does not create serious consequences for the child. From personal experience with some of my friends that have gone through divorces, their home life became more positive afterwards. Having their parents fight all the time created a negative energy and they would not want to go home. I think that divorce can help some family situations and as long as the child is brought up correctly with no guilt or blame put on them, there wont be any major negative consequences on them.

Sources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2817796/
2. http://www.separation.ca/divorce/effects-on-children
3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/contemplating-divorce/200911/divorce-doesnt-harm-children-parents-fighting-harms-child
4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1989/03/19/divorce-doesnt-always-hurt-the-kids/6432e596-b8d3-45f1-a3f7-0a1029a59240/?utm_term=.131cc19a0b5c

--Original published at Emily Garvin's Psych Blog

“As divorce has become more and more common in the US, the number of children affected by divorce has increased greatly. The effects of divorce on children are controversial and there are a number of opinions out there on just what is “best” for kids. If you select this option, I want you to find two credible sources that argue divorce is inherently harmful to children and two credible sources that argue children can come through a divorce without serious consequences. Make sure to assess the arguments and supporting data presented in each source, explain what makes the source credible, and state which side of the issue you think is correct based on your reading. Make sure to list all sources at the end of your post.”

Divorce rates have staggeringly increased throughout the United States. In past decades divorce had been considered socially unacceptable; however, recently, there has become a new level of social acceptance. Some argue that the children involved in these divorces are greatly affected by them while others argue that in the long run children can come through a divorce without serious consequences. In this first spotlight post, I will present 3 peer reviewed journal articles and a book written by a credible family therapist that supports both sides of this argument and conclude with my view on this very controversial issue.

In 2006, the article, “Adolescent’s Adjustment in Four Post-Divorce Family Structures” was published in the Journal of Divorce and Remarriage. The family structures that were studied included single mother, stepfather, joint physical custody, and single father families. Children growing up with single mothers and stepfather family structures had moderate increase in adjustment issues than non-divorced family structured children. However, the single father structure had high increases in adolescents with antisocial behavior and substance abuse. Joint physical custody structure showed no higher risk of adjustment issues than the nondivorced family structure. This research suggests that as long as both parents are engaged in the growth and development of the children whether married or divorced with joint physical custody, the children are at the same rate of adjustment issues.

A previous 1989 article evaluated 1,197 children across the United States. This article entitled, “How marital dissolution affects children: Variations by age and sex,” found that the younger the children at the time of divorce the more negative the impact on the children. The study included data from teachers, parents, and children and showed that children of divorce displayed problem behavior, psychologic distress, and academic performance issues which were long-term effects of the divorce. These negative impacts of divorce on children particularly those who are younger supports claims that divorce can be harmful to children.

The other side or more positive argument is that divorce can be good for the family including the children. The “good divorce” is one that protects the children. In the article, “Reconsidering the Good Divorce” researchers analyzed three family structures (cooperative parenting, parallel parenting, and single parenting). The cooperative parenting or good divorce scenario showed the least amount of behavior issues with the children, and the children had the closet relationship to the father. The argument is that the parents can be civil towards each other and focus on the well being of the children instead of continuing any conflict between the parents.

The Good Divorce is a book that strongly supports when a marriage falls apart, divorce can be good for the entire family.  Half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. In fact, every 13 seconds a marriage fails. There is hope because families can become binuclear families or families that span two households. This suggests that the children have double the support structure in place to help them grow and develop. As long as parents can minimize conflict and focus on the children, a good divorce is possible.

Overall, divorce has been shown to negatively impact children’s growth and development. This includes problematic behavior outbreaks, academic issues, substance abuse, trust issues, and antisocial tendencies.  Personally, I think that it becomes more difficult for children of divorce to solve conflict within their own lives. I agree that children who grow up in “broken homes” have a difficult time negotiating, communicating, and compromising with others. Additionally, the children that experience divorce at a young age are more susceptible to the negative effects of divorce as they develop. Divorce typically has two different perspectives and often at least one perspective does not consider the divorce to be positive. Divorce should never be taken lightly and should always be a last resort option.

References

Ahrons, C. (2009). The good divorce. Harper Collins.

Allison, P. D., & Furstenberg, F. F. (1989). How marital dissolution affects children: Variations by ageand sex. Developmental Psychology, 25(4), 540-549.

Amato, P. R., Kane, J. B., & James, S. (2011). Reconsidering the “good divorce”. Family relations, 60(5), 511-524.

Breivik, K., & Olweus, D. (2006). Adolescent’s adjustment in four post-divorce family structures: Single mother, stepfather, joint physical custody and single father families. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 44(3-4), 99-124.

--Original published at MelanieBlevins

Divorce has become increasingly common in the past generations,  and if you aren’t a child with split parents it is almost guaranteed that you know someone who’s parents are divorced. The increase in divorce rates raises the question of how healthy or unhealthy it is for the child to be separated from both parents, and what negative developmental outcomes may be at risk when filing for a divorce. In this spotlight post, I will analyze four scholarly articles, two being “for” divorce and two being “against” divorce, in order to come to a logical conclusion states if a divorce is more positive or more negative for children.

By any means, divorce is harmful for a parent and child relationship because it causes a split bond between the family, leaving the child’s world torn to pieces. According to Jayna Solinger from Iowa State University, one of the biggest problems with divorce is the effects of split custody. Due to custody battles, split custody can be granted by the court which allows for one parent to have a greater “entitlement” to the child than the other parent because they’re awarded more time with them. When a child lives with one parent (parent #1) most of the time, they tend to develop a stronger bond with that parent than with the other (parent #2). Although this may be helpful to bring the child and parent #1 closer together, it can be detrimental for their relationship with parent #2. Solinger states, according to the National Survey of Children, that ” close to half of all children with divorced parents had not seen their nonresidential parent in the past year, and only one in six had weekly contact or better.” Parent #1 seems to be favored by the child while parent #2 is almost forgotten during daily life. This can cause negative effects for a child because they may believe parent #2 had abandoned them or does not love them as much as parent #1, although a lot of the time that is not the case. Because the child does not have quality time with both parents, it can be difficult for them to believe their parents really love them or want them. In the long run, this can cause major trust issues for individuals because they’re living in constant fear of abandonment. It may also cause issues with insecurity because they constantly believe they were not good enough for their family.

On the contrary, the effects of divorce are seen to happen in short term. According to Hal Arkowitz, the negative effects of a divorce diminish rapidly after the initial event and do not pose as a threat to further development. A psychological study done in 2002 by E. Mavis Hetherington at the University of Virginia found that many children do experience short term effects,  which causes them to experience anxiety, anger, shock and disbelief. However, according to the study “these reactions typically diminish or disappear by the end of the second year” and “only a minority of kids suffer longer.” For a little while, divorce can be slightly harmful to a child and cause slight psychological dilemmas. However, the research shows that children can move on from the divorce rather quickly and adjust well to the new situation. This proves divorce does not have any long-term effects and does not pose as a threat to the child’s overall development into adulthood.

The theory stated above can be disproved because it has been seen that divorce may make children very unhappy about their new family situation. According to Carl E. Pickhardt, divorce causes a more aggressive response in an adolescent. At an older age, adolescents are at a higher risk for developmental issues due to their parents divorce, whereas a small child may be less likely and only experience short term grief. An adolescent is independent minded and able to react negatively towards the divorce by performing rebellious actions or becoming extremely angry. An adolescent may become more defiant and distant from the family because they view them as unstable and unable to live a successful life. Acting out towards the parents may be shown as a way to get back at them or prove that they are not in control of what happens in their own individual life. The adolescent may then be impelled to commit more serious acts of offence and/or leave the family get involved in a dangerous environment. The aggression spurred from the divorce may then continue on to other situations where the adolescent will act out aggressively because it is what they know best. The young adult can develop to be short-tempered, violent, or abusive due to the negative event that happened in his/her life.

To take an opposing view, Dr. Shoshana Bennett looks primarily at the positive effects that can come to a child because of a divorce. Bennett claims that “divorce isn’t always negative for kids” and that sometimes it is in fact “excellent for kids.” When a married couple is unhappy, the children of that couple experience many negative effects as well. But, once the couple splits each parent has the opportunity to find their happiness, which in term leads to them becoming a happier parent. Tension in the house can frighten kids and cause anxiety due to the arguments many couples face. Additionally, it is possible that, due to the parents unstable nature, the children encounter nasty arguments with one or both parents as well. A split in households allows for both parents to use whichever parenting styles they find to be the most effective with their children. This leads to a healthier environment for the child, which in the long term will support strong growth and development. Also, it is possible that children can benefit from the divorce by watching how strong each parent can be in a tough situation; this teaches the child that negative situations do have positive endings.

There are compelling arguments from both the positive and negative sides of this situation. The data and information given allows either side to be seen as “correct” based on the way each is explained. The authors of the “positive” argument articles are Hal Arkowitz and Dr. Shoshana Bennett. Hal Arkowitz is a story writer for the Scientific American and a professor of psychology at The University of Arizona and has a PhD in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Hal Arkowitz seems to be a very credible source due to his background in psychology (both as a psychologist and a professor). Dr. Shoshana Bennett is a PhD Clinical Psychologist who is famous for the popular DrShosh.com Radio Show. Additionally, she is a guest lecturer, has preformed field research, and has written many books about hope, prevention, and healing. Dr. Shoshana Bennet also seems to be a very credible source due to her background with the practice and credibility through her talk show and college lectures.

On the flip side, the two authors from the “negative” argument against divorce are Carl E. Pickhardt and Jayna Solinger. Carl Pickhardt, PhD, is a psychologist in a private counseling practice and has published numerous books that focus on child and adolescent psychology. Many of his works relate to divorce and discuss healthy ways for parents to deal with children and adolescent development struggles. Carl Pickhardt is a very credible source due to his background in psychology and the abundance of work he has done with this specific topic. He has worked families through divorce and can provide accurate insight about developmental consequences that can occur. Additionally, Jayna Solinger was a student at Iowa State University that graduated with a major in psychology. However, Jayna is still working toward their PhD and only has experience through college field work and psychology classes. I agree that she is a credible source however she is in fact less credible than the other scholarly authors mentioned above.

Personally, I sway towards the positive divorce side of the argument. Unhappy living situations can lead to domestic violence and abusive relationships among the residents of the household. Although aggression may be caused by the divorce, it is less likely to effect a child’s long term development when compared to years of abuse and unhealthy living styles. If a relationship has failed time and time again and all other means of repairing it are exhausted (e.g. couples counseling), I believe it is best for both the parents and the child if the couple follows through with a divorce. Usually, the court requires for children to attend counseling during and after the process of their parents splitting up. This can be a healthier alternative for the child and gives them another option other than staying with both parents when their relationship is not working out.

Resources:

1.  http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rhetoric/105H16/cova/jlscova.html
2. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-divorce-bad-for-children/
3. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/divorce-and-kids-5-ways-d_n_1519485.html
4. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/201112/the-impact-divorce-young-children-and-adolescents

--Original published at Brittany's Thoughts

Divorce used to not occur as frequently as it does now. This could have been impacted by society and religious reasons since divorce was extremely frowned upon in the past. Today, many children live in families with only one parent, in split custody or with biological and stepparents. These effects on the children of divorced parents has been observed for some years now, and the jury is not yet out on whether or not divorce really does affect children in the long run.

An article written by Wendy Paris on Psychology Today shows that divorced parents can successively raise children without long-lasting negative effects of divorce. She herself had gotten divorced from her ex-husband, so she looked into research to see how her son would be affected. She found that if the children were raised by cooperative, loving and understanding parents, then the children would thrive. Research found that the parents did not have to be married or living in the same house for this to work. Parents need to be civil towards one another, present and focused on their children and provide the children with what they need to live. Overall, about 80% of children are not negatively affected by the divorce in the long run. She took this information from a 2012 meta-survey conducted by Michael Lamb. That general finding comes from several studies done over the years. Paris cited a few studies and she did her research

Another article on Scientific American Mind written by Hal Arkowitz and Scott O. Lilienfeld found that most children do not experience long-term problems related to divorce. A study conducted in 2002 found that a majority of children have short-term effects that usually only last into the second year of the divorce. Another 20-year study found that 25% of adult children in divorced families experienced severe social, emotional and psychological issues, and 10% felt the same in intact families. This shows that a majority of adult children in divorced families become well-adjusted adults. Overall, about 80% of children are not negatively affected by the divorce in the long run. In a 1985 study, it found that children exposed to marital arguments more easily adjusted to the divorce than those who were not exposed. This is thought to be true because those exposed just wanted the fighting to end. According to these findings, children can be negatively affected by divorce over the course of their lifetime, but many are not.

Amy Desai wrote an article on the negative effects of divorce on children. She found that most children suffer after a divorce, and that many experience relationship problems in their adult lives. A 25-year study done from the 1970’s to the 1990’s by Judith Wallerstein found that many of the children studied never “bounced back” after the divorce. She also found that they were more likely to have premarital sex, cohabit before marriage, experience drug and alcohol abuse and generally have poor romantic relationships. She said that many of the children still felt abandoned after divorce. Desai also interviewed a counselor who said that children never came back from a divorce and that all significant events in their life reminded them of the divorce. The statistics were not numerical and were slightly vague in nature, but she does present a legitimate study. Overall, the article advocated against divorce and towards rebuilding marriages.

Finally, Jann Gumbiner, Ph.D wrote about how divorce was nothing but detrimental. She herself was the child of a divorced family. She talks about how in the 1970’s, the literature suggested that divorce did not cause problems in children. She talks about her own very negative experience with her parents’ divorce. She notes that the 70’s psychological theory was grounded in Maslow’s self-actualization and that divorce was okay for self-growth. A majority of her argument was a rant on her own personal experience, which is valid and a fact of her life, but not easy to generalize to a whole population of children of divorce. I could not locate any other sources with cited facts about how divorce is completely negative.

Personally, I fall in between the two sides. I believe that divorce is not great for children, but that if it is handled properly, the children can prosper. This kind of argument is what the positive side is giving off. A majority of children are negatively affected by divorce in the short term. A majority can recuperate from the divorce though and live happy, successful lives. Whether this success occurs from the help of both biological parents, stepparents, or only one parent, children typically will come out of a divorce doing well after some healing time.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/splitopia/201503/yes-you-can-raise-happy-children-after-divorce

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-divorce-bad-for-children/

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce-and-infidelity/should-i-get-a-divorce/how-could-divorce-affect-my-kids

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201110/divorce-hurts-children-even-grown-ones

--Original published at Sierra's College Blog

As divorce has become more common in the United States, the number of children who have been affected has also greatly increased. There has been much controversy over the years dealing with divorce. Should parents try to stay together for their children? Is living in an unhealthy relationship better than splitting up for children? How will the children be affected by the divorce with future relationships and their outlook on life? These are all questions researchers have examined about divorce and the side effects. Some studies believe children are harmed greatly after their parents split from a divorce; however, others say children can be well adaptive without serious consequences from divorce.

The first two writings I have read explain how children are harmfully affected by their parents’ divorce. The first entry, “Effects of Divorce on Children’s Health,” comes from Marripedia. Physical health, longevity, mental health, and intergenerational effects are the four topics discussed in the entry. This entry states numerous negative effects on children, allowing the audience to directly see the harsh consequences from divorce. Physical health problems include a higher risk of injuries, asthma, and cancer. Researchers and Swedish studies show how higher hospital and death rates increase with children who have had separation with parents. A study by Dr. Lewis Terman also explains how people with divorce in their lives can die earlier, about five years, compared to others. This work gives numerous mental health issues children can come across, including depression, low self-confidence, fear, and anxiety. Both genders are effected; however, different age groups can go through diverse stages. Older children going through divorce have to grow up faster as well. Even with this information, an opposing viewpoint is also placed in the entry, describing children improve after a divorce involving high conflict and arguments.

I believe this source is credible to use when seeing the negative effects of divorce on children. This source is very detailed with studies supporting the negative effects from divorce. Also, this writing has over forty references and citations from multiple journals and research cases. Looking at the source at first, I thought it is a credible account, but I want to make sure because it does not show an author. I search for more information, and find out this entry is part of a larger research study by Patrick F. Fagan and Aaron Churchill. As I have examined the whole article, I have come to the conclusion this is a credible source due to the research and data.

The second article also explains the harmful effects of divorce on children. “9 Negative Effects Divorce Reportedly has on Children,” is written by Lauren Hansen. Hansen describes how there is more divorce people in the world than married ones. She states nine negative effects of divorce on children including increased smoking habits, Ritalin consumption, sickness, school dropouts, aggression, strokes, divorce in their own relationships, lower math or social skills, and premature death. With each of the nine examples, she gives studies from different time periods and universities supporting each case. Within the cases, she describes how some of the negative effects depend on the divorce. The author includes from the studies both genders are effected with the smoking habits. Many of the studies show correlational data, including the one with the increased Ritalin consumption. Stress may have led for children of divorce to use this more dependently than children in stable environments. Lastly, Hansen gives direct links of each individual study for the audience to view.

This article is credible and reliable as well. This source does provide only information about the harmful effects divorce has on children from nine different case studies. Lauren Hansen leaves her opinion and bias out of the article, and provides only factual information. In each of the nine reasons Hansen describes, there is a relevant study. Each study is different, and Hansen creates a link for the audience to view each case in full detail. This provides reliable information for the public to view because the author’s reasoning is supported by data and research. Allowing the audience to look further into each study, gives clarity and reassurance for the information given.

Even though the above studies say divorce is harmful for children, there is other research contradicting these conclusions. The Scientific American has written an article, “Is Divorce Bad for Children,” explaining most children adjust well from divorce overall. Hal Arkowitz and Scott Lilienfeld, the two authors of the article, discuss recovery, adults’ concerns, and bouncing back from divorce. They showcase Hetherington’s study in 2002, where children are affected by divorce in short term with anger and anxiety. After the second year, many children are able to bounce back and do not suffer long term. Another study by a Penn State professor showcases children from divorce do not differ significantly from children with married parents in academics and emotional or physical behavior. Arkowitz and Lilienfeld explain there are multiple confounding variables, including different temperaments, involved with separation of parents. They include opposing studies; however they note there is no scientific research to back up the findings. Lastly, this article states children can recover quickly with support, less conflict, and role model examples from the parents.

I believe this source is credible for many reasons. This article has been posted to the Scientific American by Hal Arkowitz and Scott Lilienfeld. These two authors have background in psychology. Arkowitz is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, while Lilienfeld is the professor of psychology at Emory University. Also, this source is credible because the authors provide further readings and give multiple studies, supporting both advantages and disadvantages of divorce on kids. This shows they have viewed multiple research studies and have weighed the consequences. They are able to explain their conclusion, and explain divorce does not harm the children. They explain there are confounding variables, which means no direct cause and effect can occur. Lastly, the source only has a few ads, and the main goal is to show both sides of divorce and make a conclusion.

The last article I have viewed also suggested divorce does not directly harm the children. “How to Help Your Kids Survive Divorce: A Child Psychologist Explains” is an article by Matthew Rouse. As being a child psychologist and reviewing research about divorce, Rouse gives strategic ways to create a happy and healthy lifestyle for kids who have seen their parents separate. In the beginning, he notes divorce is never a positive stage in a child’s life; however, research has shown there are no major issues. He even states what other articles mention; divorce can be beneficial for some children when there is much conflict in the house. He states there are five ways to allow a child to get through divorce with no major problems. Self-care, conversing, allowing feelings, routines, and no harsh comments towards the other parent are ways in which the parents can influence their children after a divorce. Parents have to allow their children to take time and tell them it has not been their fault. This correlation between two variables will be positive overall. The important aspect for parents to control is their own negative opinions about the ex. Allowing for negative comments in a house can lead to worse outcomes for the children.

Lastly, this article is credible and dependable source to see the views of divorce on children. This article is written by Matthew Rouse, a member of the American Psychology Association, who works at the Child Mind Institute. He has a PhD and a MSW, and he is a clinical psychologist. Looking further into his background, I have found he is extremely knowledgeable about children, and he has completed research on parenting skills connecting to children’s behavior. With this article, Rouse captures the hardships divorce brings to families. He acknowledges these points; however, he proposes ways to avoid severe consequences. He includes in the article much research has been provided to support his perspective. He has no other goal except to inform the public divorce does not damage children. Lastly, Matthew Rouse captures the importance of positive parental influence on children during separation.

In my own opinion, I believe trying to work out a marriage is the best thing for a family; however, if the circumstances are necessary divorce is an option. After reading supporting articles of divorce and opponent ones, I believe divorce does not harm children or creates serious consequences. I come to this conclusion by evaluating the advantages and disadvantages from both viewpoints. I believe there are multiple confounding variables involved when two people separate from a marriage. The divorce itself does not harm the children. A child’s temperament, the family’s economic status, and morals are all aspects involved with the divorce. It is true children go through rough stages and patches during the first couple years after their parents split; however, they can overcome these challenges. Children may need to grow up faster and take on responsibilities, but they are going to be well prepared for the future. The correct comfort and support from split parents will allow the children to continue to feel the love. I believe from the articles and research provided, children can adapt and even create a better future if divorce happens to occur in the family.

Overall, some children may be affected negatively by divorce; however, this can be avoided by many means. This reasoning can be seen within my own family. I have seen divorce occur with many of my relatives. On my father’s side, my grandparents have been divorced since my father has been a teenager. My aunt and uncle both have been married multiple times, and many other close family friends have gone through the same process. With my father’s situation, there has not been harmful effects. His parents’ divorce has allowed him to see the importance of marriage and instill this meaning with his children. For instance, he has taught my sister and me to cherish marriage through our faith. Through the experience, he has also had to grow up fast to support himself and be there for his family. This is just an example how all divorces do not end with “damaged” children. In conclusion, I believe divorce should be avoided at all costs, so the children never have to be put in a situation that some researchers say will cause negative effects.

Links:

First: http://marripedia.org/effects_of_divorce_on_children_s_health (or the full research study http://marri.us/wp-content/uploads/The-Effects-of-Divorce-on-Children.pdf)

Second: http://theweek.com/articles/466107/9-negative-effects-divorce-reportedly-children

Third: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-divorce-bad-for-children/

Fourth: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-22097/how-to-help-your-kids-survive-divorce-a-child-psychologist-explains.html

--Original published at Rachel's Blog

In today’s society, divorce is becoming a more and more common thing between couples.  This topic will generate many different standpoints in that some people may say that it can be a positive thing, but others feel that it can impact families in a very negative way for the rest of their lives.  The main area being looked at with this topic is how divorce can or will affect children in the long term and the short term.

The first article is titled, “The Long Term Affects of Divorce on Children,” where the author argues that being raised by parents who are happy in their marriage can help prevent their child from mental, physical, educational, and social problems.  The first main point is how divorce can lead to anxiety and depression, and how if children see their parents argue, they will think they are the root of the problem and forever blame themselves.  Also, this can be caused by children feeling that they need to side with one parent over the other, but they do not know who to choose.  This will negatively effect kids because this will lead them to having trouble in school, or using drugs and alcohol because they are feeling very depressed about the situation at hand.  A second way this could effect kids is through the establishment of unhealthy relationships.  According to a study that lasted 20 years, it was shown that children who’s parents are divorced, they are more likely to get a divorce as well.  This affects relationships because children with divorced parents have a harder time with problems solving skills that are valuable.  This is a credible source because the author mentions studies to explain his reasoning and also referring to the American Psychological Association for specific facts.

Following this idea that a divorce is harmful to children is another article titled, “The impact of family structure on the health of children: Effects of divorce.”  The author states that divorce has shown to reduce a child’s success in every aspect of life such as relationships with family, education, emotional state of being, and even in the workforce.  The author mentions how children usually will no longer see their parents an equal amount of time because they usually are with one parent over the other.  These children have a higher chance of living in poverty rather than being financially stable, living with both parents.  Lastly, the child may lose important relationships with other relatives due to the family splitting up and not being able to communicate with them.  This is a credible source because the author incorporates lots of factual evidence and also includes many outside sources to support her claims.

Opposite of this stance is the article, “Divorce Not Always Bad For Kids,” where the author opens by stating that according to a new study, couples staying together for the sake of their kids can actually be more harmful than helpful.  The author also talks about how children who grew up with their parents constantly fighting, were actually better off when they became adults.  This is explained by the researcher Gager, because they state that children overcome the divorce as they get older, and it is better if their parents got a divorce so that they were not constantly exposed to the fighting.  A final key point is that a parent’s level of happiness did not effect how well a child developed relationships later in life.  This is also a credible article because the author was able to support the facts presented through a research study at Montclair State University.

The final article, “How Divorce Effects Children” begins by saying that the way people parent their children after a divorce can help them through it more easily.  The first main point is that if the parents make it as stress free as possible, the better for the child it will be.  The author also mentioned that although it is said that kids can develop anxiety and depression, most kids do not because their parents make the transition easier on them, which helps them think that they are still regular kids regardless of the status of their parents.  A final important part of this article is the study the author conducted with 99 college students whose parents were divorced, and the types of feelings they have towards the situation.  The author explains that parents should not keep their children from having these different emotions about the divorce, instead let them feel these emotions because they are allowed to feel this way.  This is a credible article because the author has his PhD in psychology, is a Professor of Psychology, and  included the results of the study with a graphic to support it and let the reader visualize the results.

Overall, I think that it is not necessarily a bad thing if parents have to get a divorce if that is the only way to resolve the issue.  I think that parents should try to stick together as long as possible because this will be best for their child  If this does not happen, then I agree with the last article in that the way they parent the child after this, and even while going through this tough time, they should make it seem as stress free as possible so that the child is not overwhelmed, and think that it is their fault.  After reading all four articles I think that a divorce does have short term affects on a child, but as the child gets older they will understand the situation more and start to accept what has happened and be fine in their future.

References:

https://www.livestrong.com/article/122847-fun-activities-kids-dealing-parents/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4240051/

https://www.livescience.com/6648-divorce-bad-kids.html

http://emeryondivorce.com/how_divorce_affects_children.php

--Original published at The Core Techs

Often times, one of the questions raised in divorce is “Do I love or do I leave?” Husband and wives wonder if they should continue to put up with the hell of a marriage they are in so their child will not be forced into drama, switching households, and separation from mom or dad. They do not want their child to feel as though they have to choose which parent to love. Although this is true, if they stay in the relationship, the concern is that the children would pick up on bad relationship habits. So many issues arise in divorce and the main decision maker comes down to the kids. Many arguements have been made as to whether or not divorce is truly that terrible for children.

Some articles claim that there is “no such thing as an intelligent divorce.” Other sites claim that there are healthy ways to leave a marriage without affecting children traumatically. So which side should be taken? An article from Psychology Today, “Divorce Hurts Children, Even Grown Ones,” written by Jann Gumbiner, claims that there are many negative, lasting impacts as a part of divorce. Due to her experience as being a child who has been involved in the divorce of her parents, she explains that it has affected her for years and still continues to do so. Many children often believe the divorce is their fault. The self-blame builds up, grades suffer, and friendships and relationships fail. The author also mentions how she was able to get into lots of trouble because her mother was depressed and did not care enough to supervise her daughter. Without the father around, there was no one else to watch Gumbiner. She also mentions how divorce effects do not happen after the fact, but instead, effects are noticed immediately – especially financially. According to Gumbiner, “Psychological theory of the 70s was heavily influenced by Maslow and self-actualization theory. People believed that it was OK to get divorced for self-growth. It was OK for parents to leave families to pursue a dream of happiness.” She rejects this idea immediately and says that divorce is selfish. The children get left behind, are minors, and are dependent. The adults are supposed to be the responsible ones – not the kids. Divorce has left on impact on Gumbiner forever; she states that when she went into a marriage, the first thing she realized was that divorce was a possibility. In any sense, this author believes that divorce leaves negative impacts on the offspring for a lifetime. Another article that states the negative effects on children is called “The Nurse Sees It First.” This author explains that nurses in all kinds of facilities end up seeing the negative effects on children after a divorce. Things can range from children being depressed, anxious, or even physically sick. The author reports that nurses see “reactions that suggest psychopathology, such as night terrors, tics, enuresis, depressive signs, and symptoms, regression, and failure to cope.” Among other symptoms come bad relationship-developing skills, fear, anger, grief, exaggerated behaviors, and more. Often times, divorce shows to negatively impact children’s social and mental growth. It slows both down and decreases their abilities to cope and understand.

Although many people believe divorce has a negative impact on children, others believe it is better than staying in a bad marriage. “Why A Good Divorce Is Better Than A Bad Marriage For Kids” is an article providing claims as to why an unhappy marriage should be left in the dust. In this article, Brett Sember claims that divorce “is a far cry better than raising your children in a violent, abusive, angry, or deeply resentful marriage.” Sember remarks that if an unhappy marriage continues, a parent would be exposing their children to constant arguments and negative attitudes. Sometimes children can even be exposed to violence, resulting in potential abuse on them or others. Even if violence is not present in the home, it is still not an appropriate environment for children. Divorce allows kids to escape one messy household and move into two new ones. Although it is odd, it is better than being in an unsafe and unloving home. It also allows both parents to be seen without having to worry about fluctuating emotions. The parents are happier and everything is more calm. Children can also learn the idea of compromising through this experience. The article also says, “Parents who choose personal happiness teach their kids to do the same.” Another article about the positive affects of marriage is called “Stepmothers’ Role in Mediating Adverse Effects On Children of Divorce.” The author in this article explains that after a divorce, children do not necessarily have to suffer from the effects of losing a parent – more specifically, a mother. After a father has chosen to divorce his wife, children automatically feel disconnected from their mothers. This can offer many negative implications, however, if a stepmother is brought into the situation, sometimes these issues can get resolved. The research states, “Addressing role ambiguity, relationships, communication styles, and reorganization can help families avoid unnecessary stress during divorce and remarriage.” Stepmothers can help amend relationships with communication, pull the family back together, and organize the family back into a stress-free life.

All four articles seem relatively reliable. The first article, “Divorce Hurts Children, Even Grown Ones” was found on Psychology Today, a reliable magazine or website source. The author also has PhD credentials. Most importantly though, I believe this author to be reliable because she has first hand experience with being a child of divorce. Although this is true, at some points the article does seem heavily biased. She makes divorce seem so negative by making the reader feel bad. The second article that tries to prove divorce as having negative effects on children is called “The Nurse Sees It First.” This article provides much more scientific evidence than the first. In fact, this source is actually a study. It was conducted in offices where nurses encountered children of divorce and then repeated the effects seen with permission, of course. Many facts and statistics were used in this case. Here, bias is not present. Sources coming from the negative side of divorce seem pretty reliable, but what about the positive effects side? The first article, “Why A Good Divorce Is Better Than A Bad Marriage,” is reliable also due to its source. This article can be found on the website of the Huffington Post. Since this is a news website, many reviewers go over the information. Despite this, because it is a news source, bias can sometimes be found. This is not the case; this article seems to provide more facts than anything. If there is any bias in this article it is not strong or meant to persuade you with anecdotes. The last article, “Stepmothers’ Roles in Mediating Adverse Effects on Children of Divorce,” is a very reliable source because similar to the other, it has been located through a database and is also a research study. Data in collected on families who have gone through a divorce, and information is collected on what kind of effect a stepmother has had from the children’s perspective after a divorce. This source has been peer reviewed many times, provide facts and evidence, and seems to be a prime source.

Overall, I personally believe that divorce is a better option than an unhealthy marriage. Staying in an unhappy marriage causes a lot of problems for the kids. Not only does it expose them to fighting, but it also exposes them to a false sense of love. By choosing divorce, kids are automatically out of more danger than if they were leaving in a tense household. It allows them to develop a better understanding of comprising, and it also provides opportunities to see both parents in a happier and less violent stage. Although divorce is still hard on the kids, imagine if they had stayed in a home where parents constantly argued and put the children in danger. Not only does this put children at a risk for getting hurt, but it will also let them think that in the future, it will be okay to stay in a more abusive relationship. If their parents stuck it out, why shouldn’t they? “Fighting is normal.” Parents should be trying their hardest to give their children a successful future, not one that gives them a false sense of hope. Problems can be resolved after a divorce, but in a bad marriage, things likely do not get solved unless there is separation.

What do you think, Core Techs? Does divorce do more harm than good?

-B

References

Gumbiner, J. (2011, October 31). Divorce hurts children, even grown ones. Psychology

Today. Retrieved February 21, 2018, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-

teenage-mind/201110/divorce-hurts-children-even-grown-ones

Oppawsky, J. (2014). The nurse sees it first the effects of parental divorce on children

and Adolescents. Annals Of Psychotherapy & Integrative Health, 1-8.

Sember, B. (2015, March 24). Why a good divorce is better than a bad marriage for kids.

Retrieved February 21, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/brette-sember/why-a-

good-divorce-is-better-than-a-bad-marriage-for-kids_b_6925236.html

Zaharychuk, C. (2017). Stepmothers’ role in mediating adverse effects on children of

divorce. Journal Of Divorce & Remarriage, 58(5), 311-328.

doi:10.1080/10502556.2017.1301738