The Effects of Divorce on Children

The Effects of Divorce on Children

Ever since the industrial revolution began from the 18th century, the traditional nuclear family, a family of two biological parents and their children, has gone through different stages of transformations. The typical nuclear family gradually became breadwinner-homemaker family. Then, as several waves of feminism started at the 20th century, women seek for equal social and family status. The dual-earner family became the dominant form of family. However, when most of families became dual-earner families, the issue of divorce also became more serious. Research indicates that the divorce rate has increased rapidly since 1960s in United States. Although some researchers try to convince people to see divorce as the rearrangement of a family that children are worse off growing up in, the negative consequences of the “rearrangement” cannot be ignored.

There are ample of evidences to prove the negative effects children of divorce have to confront. Although some researchers try to overthrow the traditional view of divorce by proving the benefits it can brings to children, in fact, there are prices for children to pay for the benefits. Two experts in psychology and human development, Professor Brentano and Professor Clarke- Stewart claims that there are subtle costs for children when they have to cope with their parent’s divorce. They state:

These emotional costs include embarrassment, fear of abandonment, grief over loss, irrational hope of reconciliation, worry about their parents’ well- being, anxiety about divided loyalties, and uncertainty about romantic relationships.” (Clarke-Stewart, & Brentano, 2006)

Professor Brentano and Professor Clarke- Stewart points out the long lasting inner struggle that children of divorce have to suffer. Although their inner struggle cannot be easily penetrated from their academic achievements, in a research of children of divorce, three-quarters of children said, “they felt...