The Effects of Divorce on Adolescent

DevelopmentLaura D’Artois

4/8/14

The Effects of Divorce on Adolescent Development

Healthy development through this life stage is critical for the growing individual; however, there also ways in which this stage can be hindered

Divorce has become increasingly coming in today’s society

The question is raised: does parental divorce in adolescence affect adolescent development? If so, what are the most common effects?

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development

A Norwegian study found that when compared to non-divorced families, those from divorced families illustrated more problems with social competence and academic achievement

If children experienced divorce at an earlier age then they may have “hidden” problems, which may not surface until adolescence. This showed that symptoms of mental health, such as anxiety and depression, and negative academic achievement increase with age

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development:

AcademicsWhen divorce takes place there is a paradigm shift in

roles and responsibilities of parents

For example, a newly single parent may have to perform the “second shift” after work forcing them to become less available to the child

This decline in support could then result in less help with academics and even decreased emotional support as well

The child does not have to motivation to do well due to the parent’s emotional unavailability. This could be the reason decreased academic performance was the strongest effect of parental divorce found in this study.

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development

The long-term effects were stronger for females in term of higher levels of anxiety and depression; however, males were more likely to demonstrate aggressive behavior

Ultimately, adolescents experienced a lower sense of well-being, high levels of depression/anxiety, and decreased academic performance

Parental divorce during early adolescence also had a negative effect on psychological adjustment

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development: Parent-Child

Relationships

One of the most common ways of trying to alleviate stress and give meaning to the situation was by disclosing information to the adolescent

While keeping the children informed may seem critical, it could negatively affect their mental health

If one parent discloses negative information about the other parent, such as an act of adultery, the adolescent could be subject to extreme internal conflict. They may question their loyalty to a parent or feel guilty for not choosing sides at all

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development:

Parent-Child Relationships It was concluded that parents should offer adequate information as to

alleviate fear and uncertainty; however, “negative parental divorce disclosures” can have severe consequences on the psychological well-being of the adolescent

It was suggested that too much “sensitive” information or speaking lowly of the other’s character to the adolescent resulted in a significant increase in distress and lowered quality of well-being and parent-child relationship

Adolescents who experienced this particular situation exhibited the greatest level of anxiety compared to other adolescents from divorced families.

Another situation that heightens adolescent tension is when parents seek emotional support from their child because they do not have other outlets. This strains the boundary between the parent and child, yielding pressure and distress

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development:

Parent-Child Relationships Another situation that heightens adolescent tension is when

parents seek emotional support from their child because they do not have other outlets

This strains the boundary between the parent and child, yielding pressure and distress

The adolescent experiences a role reversal feeling the need to be the source of comfort and support to take care of the parent

This had a direct correlation to maladjustment, anxiety, depression, and even deviance

Specifically, in female adolescents, disclosures specifically concerning financial problems and negative comments about the former spouse greatly contributed to psychological distress

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development

Misbehavior is a common outlet for the adolescent

Children often displayed antisocial behavior if they experienced divorce at a young age

A positive correlation between parental divorce and delinquency was found; however, parental divorce along with remarriage yielded the strongest predictor of adolescent delinquency

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development

Studies in the U.S. conclude that a quarter of children that experience parental divorce develop behavioral or emotional problems that grow stronger in adolescence and potentially adulthood Resilience has been found to be a significant protective

factor in children and adolescents, proving to alleviate some of the stressors associated with divorce

While many of these individuals are reported to be well adjusted and predominately psychologically stable, there has been vast evident showing that these adolescents still underwent distress and emotional turmoil

The adolescent recalled periods of unhappiness, mood swings, and generally negative emotions following the divorce

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development: The

United States and South Korea A key difference that was found in the U.S. and South Korea in terms

of adjustment was that remarriage is viewed as a difficult transition for American children; however, the South Koreans seek to reestablish a nuclear family, so it serves as a catalyst for readjustment.

The results of this South Korean study concluded that adolescents from divorced families had lower self-esteem and internalized their problems more frequently and intensely

They reported withdrawal, or antisocial behavior, and anxtiey/depression, specifically in females when compared to males.

These individuals were pained emotionally and felt a deep sense of loss, as well as a fear of abandonment by both parents. The adolescents also perceived themselves as less securely attached to their parents

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development: The

United States and South Korea

There are many similarities between South Korean and Western findings

Parental divorce disrupts adolescent development by causing distress, psychological maladjustment, emotional pain, and strained parent-child relationships

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Mental Health and Development

Some researchers argue that adjustment following a divorce is less problematic than the risk of adolescents experiencing mental health problems and disorders

This group is also more likely to use substances, participate in sexual activity earlier, and suffer physical health problems. This leads to even more serious issues in adulthood, including psychiatric hospitalization

Preventative Programs

A study tested the effectiveness of preventative intervention for divorced families conducted in childhood and its impact on mental health disorders and substance abuse by conducting a fifteen year follow-up

The most common disorder for those who were not in the prevention program as children was major depression, which had its onset in adolescence.

Other preventative programs in childhood have decreased the risk of imprisonment, “high risk sexual behaviors,” drug use, and depression

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationships are a critical developmental task in adolescence

Family experience and environment have a great influence on adolescent functioning

Many instances of family instability have been found to have an effect on the age of first romantic relationships and encounters

Effects of Divorce on Adolescent’s Romantic Relationships

if adolescents perceive their parent’s relationship as unstable, they are motivated to rush to find their romantic relationship as an escape

the adolescent child of a single parent may be more exposed to dating compared to one in a nuclear family. The adolescent’s exposure ignites curiosity and acceptance

Adolescent girls with absent fathers are more likely to become sexually active at an earlier age

It was concluded in a study that if the child went through a divorce in early adolescence, then they were more likely to establish a romantic relationship at an earlier age than those from traditional home

The Effects of Divorce on Adolescent Development

Parental divorce in adolescence contributes to depression/anxiety, lowered self-esteem and academic performance, strained parent-child relationship, and maladjustment

These individuals are at a higher risk of participating in criminal acts, substance abuse, and early sexual activity

Adolescents are also more likely to jump into relationships early following divorce, which often prove to be unstable

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Hartman, L. R. (2011). The way they see it: How do adolescents experience life following parental divorce?. International Journal Of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 6(3), 93-99.

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Shulman, S., Zlotnik, A., Shachar-Shapira, L., Connolly, J., & Bohr, Y. (2012). Adolescent Daughters' Romantic Competence: The Role of Divorce, Quality of Parenting, and Maternal Romantic History. Journal Of Youth & Adolescence, 41(5), 593-606.

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