Divorce and Single Family Houses
As with every change and event that unfolds during one’s life, a divorce or modification in living situation can leave a family divided, stressed and uncertain of the future. Critical periods of learning and relationship building with family members can be cut short, and even eliminated if family dynamic or parental figures lack in a child’s life. The relationship between divorced and single parent households spark various psychological problems among children of these families. The lack of guardianship and healthy relationships between parental figures have proven to have significant emotional and mental impacts on children, often skewing their outlook on life and future relationships.
During the first year of parental separation, children face feelings of anxiety, sadness and loneliness as they are forced to readjust to a new and at times “frazzling” living situation. Children raised in single parent homes experience a slower onset progression of these feelings as they age and develop a deeper understanding of their life and home environment. Although divorce and multiple living locations pose as a large adjustment, children are very flexible and adaptable beings, and often get used to and settle into these situations with ease. The United States of America is ranked as one of the highest countries in percent of change of divorce in the first marriage; However as of 2016, both marriage AND divorce rates have fallen.
In the midst of a global pandemic, divorce rates have increased significantly. Although data collections are limited at this time, many couples listed similar reasons to ending a marriage during challenging times like these;
-Financially unstable
-Political Discord
-Lockdown
During a divorce, the amount of stress and emotional pressure that is put on the child is often overlooked and overruled by the feelings of the adults involved, which resultantly suppresses and limits the resources available to the children involved. Similar to those being raised in a divorced household, children of single parent households experience emotional neglect and often form various types of anxiety and depression.
When it comes to divorces, the quality of care and emotional support from parent to child has the ability to change drastically. Many children find that following a divorce “their mothers are less affectionate and supportive, and their ability to discipline becomes less consistent and less effective for the children” (R. Brooks). Although parental qualities and the conditions of pre-existing relationships can dramatically impact a child during a divorce, the gender and age of the child or children involved can also contribute to how hard the separation is. The immediate and long term effects of divided families vary from family to family, but studies have successfully found a few general trends. In numerous cases, statistics have shown that academic performance and achievement of both boys and girls were significantly lower than those of children from intact families.
Furthermore, the academic performance in boys even five years after the separation “were adversely affected, while girls’ were not” (Canada Department of Justice). Additionally, scientists also found that the emotional and behavioral conditions of boys and girls were also drastically different. One study showed that five years after a divorce, boys were generally more content with their living situation, while girls tended to have negative feelings and emotions towards their households. They were also more dissatisfied with their social life in comparison to girls who resided with both of their parents.
Although divorce and single parent households can have a negative impact on the children who are raised in them, there are numerous benefits to these living situations. In recent studies, data shows that as the rise in single parent households continues, so does the improving lifestyle, habits and attitudes of young children being raised in such an environment.
Change is hard for everyone, and in a world that is rapidly evolving both socially, culturally and economically families and guardians are presented with new challenges everyday. Diversity in living situations and attitudes of those who live by these arrangements further deepen the complexity of our American society, but also of our global society.
