The Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Children

Paper Summary:

Much research has been done into the effects of divorce on children. However this paper shows that much of this research has focused on what happens with children during the first few weeks or months after the divorce. Far fewer studies have been done into how divorce effects children in the long-term as they go through adolescence and into adulthood. It explains that the conventional wisdom seems to be that, as children grow up, they are able to see their parents' divorce with more objectivity and maturity and will not harbor any resentment over it in their adulthood. It follows to explain that common sense states that emotional scars inflicted in childhood are not so easily faded. In fact, those scars can grow into entirely new things as a child grows up. This paper explores some of the long-term effects of divorce on children.

From the Paper:

"These are all problems that either carry on into adulthood or manifest in adulthood for the first time. The shock of losing a parent to divorce, to only being able to see one parent occasionally, and of seeing their parents seemingly at war with each other causes severe psychological trauma to a child, and that child may wonder if he or she will ever feel safe and secure again. If not properly handled in the beginning, these children can grow up with lasting psychological damage. It can affect everything in their adult lives, from how well they do in school to their ability to keep a job to their success with interpersonal relationships. Children who do not get the proper psychological attention during and after a divorce are not being given a good start in life and can find themselves with emotional scars that will not heal."

More papers on The Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Children:

• Cause and Effect Essay # 4328 : "The Long-Term Effects of Divorce"
• Term Paper # 93236 : "Effects of Divorce on Children"
• Essay # 31833 : "The Effects of Divorce on Adolescents"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: