Essay on the Detrimental Effects of Divorce
Does divorce or disruption in family structure during adolescence have a detrimental effect on development?
Teenage children
of the divorced parents are more likely to develop psychological and social
maladjustments and poor sense of worth compared to children who belong to
two-parent families. One of the problems
adolescents of divorced parents faced is concerned with peer pressure. Children
are more exposed to destructive social relationships, alcohol and drug abuse,
and poor academic performance. This
paper will lay about how divorce or disruption in family structure during
adolescence has detrimental effect on development. Adolescence period is the
most critical stage of human development that requires guidance and positive
role model to prevent misconceptions toward issues in life.
Children in
divorced families, according to Amato (1994), have lower level of well-being
than children in two-parent families. To cite an example, this happened to one
acquaintance whose parents separated when she was 12 years old. Her mother went
being a housewife to breadwinner. Although the parent provided everything her
children’s need, this young girl developed neurotic behavior; she chooses male
company in place of her estranged father, she lets them abuse her just to make
sure they wouldn’t leave her. At age 17 she became a single mother. Her patterns
of behavior towards men continue. The separation causes her to make poor
relationships with the opposite sex; the absence of a male parent formed a
perverted attitude towards sex and self-image.
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In one article
journal (Demo & Acock, 1988) states that social learning theory emphasizes
parents as primary reinforcers of child behavior. Researches based on this
theory analyze the effect of parental models. Same sex parent’s presence in an
adolescent child is needed to adopt appropriate sex-typed behavior. In regards
to children’s gender, Guidubaldi and Perry found that boys in divorced families
are likely to manifest maladaptive symptoms and behavior problems than girls.
Parent loss, separation, divorce or desertion may greatly affect the child’s
development and is more vulnerable to acute psychiatric disturbances. (Demo & Acock, 1988)
One study
observed elementary school age children in recently disrupted families suffered
pronounced and multidimensional effects in academic, social and behavioral
aspects. The impact of marital disruption is less severe for preschool age
children than of the school age children. Kinard and Reinherz (1984, 1986).
They concluded that the child’s age may mediate the impact of the events on
other aspects like self-esteem and gender role orientation. In a study by
Kurdey and Siesky (1980) they found out that older children are more adjusted
and are more understanding of the situation, they are likely to discuss the
problem and improve the relations with parents. (Demo & Acock, 1988)
A study by
Ellison, 1983 and Rosen, 1979 is not related to family structure but in marital
discord. It is reported that children’s adjustment toward divorce depends on
the level of parental conflict. Different studies were conducted based on this
situation and they report that children’s adjustment to divorce is facilitated
under the conditions of parental conflict in both prior to and following
divorce. (Demo & Acock, 1988)
This paper
examines how divorce affects the development of the adolescent and it
identifies several important outcomes. Parental divorce has a negative effect
on the child’s socio-emotional development. The absence of a same sex parent
can bring undesirable results that lead to maladjusted behavior. Second, the effects
of divorce have more impact on the elementary school age children preschool
children and older children. Third, divorce has more adverse effect if there is
high level of parental conflict. Children of divorced parents are more likely
to manifest poor well-being than do children living under two parents.
Works
cited
Amato, P. R. (1994). Life-span adjustment of
children to their parents' divorce.The future of children, 143-164.
Demo, D. H., & Acock,
A. C. (1988). The impact of divorce on children. Journal of Marriage and the Family,
619-648.
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