Describe the long-term consequences of divorce on children. What factors help children make a more positive adjustment?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: While most children show improved adjustment by two years after divorce, overall, children and adolescents of divorced parents continue to score slightly lower than children of continuously married parents in academic achievement, self-esteem, social competence, and emotional and behavior problems. Divorce is also linked to problems with adolescent sexuality and development of intimate ties. Young people who experienced parental divorce—especially more than once—display higher rates of early sexual activity and adolescent parenthood. Some experience other lasting difficulties—reduced educational attainment, troubled romantic relationships and marriages, divorce in adulthood, and unsatisfying parent–child relationships.
The overriding factor in positive adjustment following divorce is effective parenting—shielding the child from family conflict and using authoritative child rearing. Parent-training programs can help custodial parents support their children’s development. Where the custodial parent is the mother, contact with fathers is important. The more paternal contact and the warmer the father–child relationship, the less children react with defiance and aggression. Some studies indicate that outcomes for sons are better when the father is the custodial parent. Regardless of the extent of their friction, divorcing parents who manage to engage in coparenting, supporting each other in their child-rearing roles, greatly improve their children’s chances of growing up competent, stable, and happy. Caring extended-family members, teachers, siblings, and friends also reduce the likelihood that divorce will result in long-term difficulties.