Buri 1

Maria Buri

Ms. Basile

English 9H

7 April 2017

The Effects of Divorce on Children and the Measures Taken

The technical definition of divorce refers to two married adult people, but if the

marriage involves children, the people involved should remember that kids are arguably

the most important part of the divorce process. Firstly, this is in part because "more than

1 million children in the United States are affected by divorce or separation every year"

(ABC). Secondly, studies have shown that children are always impacted negatively by

their parents divorce, which can lead to children disregarding important values that

include devotion, love, and the like; and being mentally unhealthy later in life (Education

Journal). In addition, the parents negative feelings towards each other can hurt the child

indirectly. Children who find themselves without a voice during the divorce process can

become unintended targets for damage, but they are not paid attention to because

people claim that kids are strong and unaffected (Medved). Divorce can be necessary in

a troubled relationship and better in the long term, but parents and governments have to

understand that children need to be assisted in many ways during a separation.

Although every child should have a support system while going through the rough

experience of a divorce, there are particular effects that should be highlighted. For

example, children of divorce have sex at an earlier age, more frequently, and with more

people than children with married parents, leading to a higher chance of becoming

pregnant at a young age (Orgils, Carratal, Espada). Likewise, research has shown

that children with divorced parents are associated with "a decreased probability of

graduating from high school and lower levels of education and less prestigious

occupations", as well as internalizing and externalizing problems, interpersonal

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difficulties, poor physical health, and substance use" (Sigal, Wolchik, Tein, Sandler).

Furthermore, children of divorce are known to develop conditions such as anxiety, fear

of separation, and an obsessive need for control. In conclusion, regarding the plethora

of divorces harmful effects on children, it is necessary for most everyone to realize that

despite divorce being between two married adults, the children are the ones who are

most affected and therefore the ones who need to be supported and assisted during the

separation process.

However, these effects can be reversed with the correct legislative assistance.

Divorce is a common occurrence and is widely proven to be a stressful process for

children. However, there are almost no laws in the United States of America and other

more developed countries aimed to help kids. Research shows that "more than 1 million

children in the United States are affected by divorce or separation every year," yet no

one has succeeded in truly helping them in a legislative sense (ABC). Regardless of the

law, there are organizations, businesses, and professionals who strive to assist children

during the divorce process. However, with children being so profoundly affected by their

parents separation and most unable to access assistance for varied reasons,

governments need to be involved as well. In the United States, many lawmakers have

and are currently working on other bills or provisions regarding the divorce process.

Some states in America have begun to consider legislation that details what happens to

pets during a divorce, but specific and comprehensive assistance for children is

generally ignored (Brulliard). In addition, other places in the United States are

developing regulations for how to handle electronic data, domestic abuse, and the

speed of divorce during a couples separation. Despite all of this, some people are

working on supporting children of divorce. A few states have legislation and guidelines

in place for children/judge meetings and child participating in divorce decision making,

meetings that could give children a voice and encourage them to ask for help and more
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importantly, help themselves (Bala, Birnbaum, Cyr, McColley). Many researchers and

authors believe that these can be valuable for judges, children and the divorce

resolution process. In summary, governmental involvement and legislation to assist

children during their parents divorce is very effective: however, most governments and

communities need development and improvement at the very least.

There are several ways in which this improvement can happen, including

education about divorce, healthy relationships, and effective communication. To improve

laws in a basic sense, people must know that research from all over the world shows

that staying in touch and spending time with both parents equally and in a positive way

can combat negative effects of the divorce and implement that into any regulations they

might make (Vanassche, Sodermans, Matthijs, Swicegood). School, as a very large part

- arguably as large as the parents - in the lives of most children, also needs to be

highlighted. Parents should communicate with people in the child's life to make things

easier, for example "communication with schools is confidential, and parents can ask to

speak with the teacher, principal, school social worker or guidance counselor" (Silver),

or in governments case, legislation should employ guidelines and requirements for

accommodating and assisting separated families by doing the aforementioned things.

Legislation should also factor in the knowledge that open and healthy communication,

professional help, the support of other adults, low parental conflict, schedules, routines,

and consistency can be profoundly effective in combating the negative effects of divorce

on a child. Although all of this is important, legislation should make sure to listen to the

child above all. Interviews with children have shown that, to help combat negative

effects of divorce, parents should know that children do not want "to be your messenger,

you to put our other parent down, to hear about the money, to be your private detective

or spy, you to not attend our important life events because you 'cant stand to be in the

same room' as our other parent, you refuse to get professional help if you cant get over
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the divorce" (Feuerman). Businesses, government, and the general public should take

these many opportunities and methods to support children because the most important

measure of a successful divorce is the wellbeing of the affected children.

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Works Cited

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Meeting Children." Family Law Quarterly, vol. 47, no. 3, Fall2013, pp. 379-408.

EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

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Brulliard. "Pets No Longer Just Property in Alaskan Divorce Cases - North Shore." Pets

No Longer Just Property in Alaskan Divorce Cases - North Shore. Washington

Post, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

"Children Suffer Effects of Divorce." Education Journal, no. 145, 09 Nov. 2012, p. 5.

EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

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A.9, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com"

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and Occupational Goals." Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, vol.
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Silver, Erin. "How to Manage Back-to-school Situations When You're Newly Divorced."

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Divorce." Journal of Family Studies, vol. 19, no. 2, Aug. 2013, pp. 139-158.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.5172/jfs.2013.19.2.139.