DIVORCE: WHAT EFFECT DOES IT HAVE ON SCHOOL AGE

CHILDREN? Argosy University

Residency - Advanced Academic Study and Writing

By Renee Hillsman- Nimako

TABLE OF CONTENT Abstract Introduction Identify the topic Establish the importance of the topic Number of individuals Impact on individuals Definitions of key terms Literature strategies Description of the extent and nature of the

literature Overview of the organization of the rest of the

review

TABLE OF CONTENT

Theoretical considerations Theory A Theory B

Marriage Marital conflict Divorce

TABLE OF CONTENT

Effects of divorce on school age children A. Psychological problems B. Academic problems C. Loss of connection to other parent D. Child custody

CONTINUE: TABLE OF CONTENT

Helping children to cope with divorce A. Individual Therapy B. Family Therapy Summary

ABSTRACT Divorce was examined in affects on children, in

the literature review of previous studies and research. Children ages 6-12 years old experience adversities after divorce. In families with school ages children of divorce they were found to have low academic scores, behavioral problems, social problems and psychological problems. These finding suggests that children from divorce parents experience life events in post divorce.

Key Words: divorce, children, family problems, marital problems, marital conflict, and child support.

INTRODUCTION

Divorce has been a big problem since the early 17th and 18th century, now it is still the most detrimental cause to the family system. History on divorce is that it was a sacred union among Christians. It wasn’t until the American Revolution that the independent states made divorce legal (Jost & Robinson, 1991).

INTRODUCTION CONT. Divorce is considered the solution to the marital

discord. It is the separation of the mother and father to minimize the conflict between them.

According to authors Jost and Robinson, divorce can be a harmful experience for children. And these experiences can cause short to long term affects on children lives for example, imbalance in school, work and later marriages (Jost & Robinson, 1991).

More on the affects of divorce are that the rate in the United States remains high and it is a problem for our society as it spiral upon the marriage institution.

IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM

Since 2007 the divorce rate has doubled from 145,000 to 161,000 in 2008 (CDC, 2009).

There are 1 million children who have experienced divorce of their parents (Cohen, 2010).

Divorce happens one in every sixth family; leaving the children venerable, hopeless and doubt about future presence of family members.

In the United States forty percent of children will experience parental separation; particularly in single family homes (Portnoy, 2008).

ESTABLISH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC

This topic is important because children who are school age are faced with marital problems in their homes.

This life event causes in many areas of the children lives.

These children and families are at risk for separation from both or one family member.

IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS/ NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS/ DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS

Divorce happens in one of every sixth family. In the US there are about forty percent of children

who will experience parental separation and some will reside in single family homes (Portnoy, 2008).

Divorce is any formal separation of a husband and wife according to established customs (dictionary .com)

Marriage: social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies (dictionary. com)

LITERATURE STRATEGIES /DESCRIPTION OF THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF THE LITERATURE

This review will be research by using the online library at Argosy University library data base systems for example ProQuest, EBSCO Host, Psychology.

Using these databases, I will review peer review journals and articles that is related to my topic.

Key terms divorce, children, family problems, marital problems, marital conflict, and child support.

OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REST OF THE REVIEW

The organizational structure for the rest of the review. I will discuss theory, the effect of divorce on school age children, interventions and the summary.

THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS THEORY A THEORY B

Structural functional theory; provides basic structure in the family unit and promotes stable development in the family(Demo & Acock, A, 1988)

The social learning theory; this theory focuses on the role of the parent and their enforcers in a child’s behaviors (Demo & Acock, A, 1988).

MARRIAGE MARITAL CONFLICT DIVORCE

As stated earlier, Marriage is a social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies (dictionary. com)

Marital conflict is used interchangeably with marital problems and divorce.

Again, Divorce is any formal separation of a husband and wife according to established customs (dictionary .com)

EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

Children developed psychological problems following divorce; symptoms includes depression, anxiety and low self esteem (Portnoy, 2008)

In a large scale study by Mclanahan found that absent fathers was the cause of lack of school attendance for boys and pregnancy for girls (Bauserman, 2002).

CONTINUE: EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

A study performed by Guidubldi and Perry, concluded that 6.4 years post divorce, boys had increase in behaviors then girls (Demo & Acock, A, 1988).

Child custody has come a long way and it is still a problem in the U.S.

There are laws that states that the best way in this situation is in the interest of the child.

Other information is that a study found that 16-18 percent of custody arrangements in northern California including dual living systems (Jost & Robinson, 1991)

HELPING CHILDREN TO COPE WITH DIVORCE

In the adjusting period, support groups are an essential to the recovery process.

Groups are arranged by therapist, counselor, and or teacher with same age group who talk about their feelings and secret thoughts on divorce (Jost & Robinson, 1991).

Family therapy model is specific to multilevel view to understanding the family problems (Lebow, 2003).

SUMMARY

Divorce: a problem in the marriage institute that has been a defeating problems since the 17th and 18th century. The coming of age we saw that in the American Revolution period that divorce became legal in colonies and state. Divorce has an affect on school age children. Its affect cause psychological, social, behavioral problems loss of one or both parents, academic problems, and conflict between parents (e.g. Jost & Robinson, 1991; Gordon, 2005; Demo & Acock, A, 1988; Portnoy, 2008).

SUMMARY There are 1 million children who experience the

devastation of divorce. (Cohen, 2010). In addition to this the Divorce rate doubled from 145,000 to 161,000 in 2008 (CDC, 2009). Studies have indicated that divorce is the leading cause of behavioral problems in boys and less in girls (Demo & Acock, A, 1988).

The effects of divorce of on children can be detrimental to their developmental well being. However studies performed from 1950 to 1990’ revealed that there was not enough information on the cause of divorce. But during the years there has been a significant change in the sample size. (Amato, 2001).

REFERENCES Amato, P. R.(2001).Children of divorce in the 1990’s: An update of eh Amato and Keith

(1991) meta-analysis. Journal of family psychology, Vol. 15, 3, 255-370 DOI 10/1037//0893-3200.15.3.355

Allison, P.D. & Furstenberg, F. (1989) How marital dissolution affects children: variations by age and sex. Developmental psychology, Vol. 25, 4, 540-549

Bauserman, R. (2002). Child adjustment in joint custody versus sole-custody arrangements: A meta- Analysis Review. Journal of family psychology, Vol. 16, 1, 91-102, DOI 10.1037.110893-2300.16.1.91

Cohen, G.J.& committee on psychosocial aspects of child and family health (2002) Helping

Children and families deal with divorce and separation. Journal of the American academy of pediatrics, 110, 1019-1023

Demo, D, H. (1988). The impact of divorce on children. Journal of marriage and family therapy, 50,3

Dictionary. com

REFERENCES Gordon, R. M (2004). The doom and gloom of divorce research. Psychoanalytic

psychology, Vol. 22, 3 450-451 DOI 10/1037/0736-9735.22.3.450

Jost, K., & Robinson, M. (1991). Children and divorce. CQ Researcher, 1, 349-368. Retrieved July 29 2010 from CQ Researcher online, http:// library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1991060700.

Lebow, J. (2003). Integrative family therapy for disputes involving child custody and visitation. Journal of family psychology, Vol. 17, 2, 181-192, DOI: 10.1037//0893-3200.17.2.181

Morrison, D.R, & Chelin, A. J. (1995). The divorce process and young children’s’ well-being: a perspective analysis. Journal of marriage and the family, Vol. 57, 3, 800

Portnoy, S, M.(2008) The psychology of divorce: A lawyer’s primer, Part 2: The effects of divorce on children. Journal of family law, 21, 4

Tejada-Vera B, Sutton PD. (2009). Births, marriages, divorces, and deaths: Provisional data for 2008. National Vital Statistics reports, Vol. 57, 19