Divorce is a pressing issue in America today. PolitiFact.com estimates in 2012 that the lifelong probability of a marriage ending in divorce is 40%-50%. Lilienfeld discusses the effects of divorce on children in Chapter 10 of his book. As I read this section of the book I was intrigued. I myself am not a child of a divorced family however I know many friends and family members who have been directly affected. One of the major problems in the dispute over the effects of divorce on children derives from the wide range of outside factors surrounding the divorce.
In an article written by Dr. Lesley Foulkes-Jamison, she describes the influence of age to be a major contributor. She suggests the difference in effects on a preschooler verses an adolescent to be astonishing. As I looked at her findings and studies I began relating it to our lecture from this past week on cognitive ability. The limited cognitive abilities of a preschooler may lead to diminished responses in the ability to cope with the events of the divorce. On the other hand Dr. Foulkes-Jamison discussed the ability for adolescents to fully comprehend the detrimental effects of the divorce. She points out the integration process that is necessary into the adolescent's life which will therefor adversely affect their own identity. This aspect of the article also got me pondering the section in chapter 10 surrounding gender identity. I had never looked at a divorce as imposing a debilitating factor in the identity of someone other than the two individuals actually getting the divorce. Dr. Foulkes Jamison however suggested it to be just as traumatizing to the child as well as the parent.
Another intriguing facet of the article compares the effects of gender on the behavior of a child experiencing the effects of a divorce. Foulkes-Jamison displays a girl's behavior as becoming increasingly anxious and potentially withdrawn from society as a result of the divorce. On the other hand boys may display aggression or disobedience as a coping mechanism. Differences is gender along with age, vary the effects of divorce on the child, therefor creating a more diverse nature in the study of divorce and its consequences.
The article helped me to understand that the effects of a divorce on children are not all the same, but continually changing based on many outside factors. Dr. Lesley Foulkes-Jamison offered insight into the psychological differences that may occur based on the essence of development, and tied nicely into many aspect of this chapter. It also helped me to realize all of her findings are generalizations, and not concrete descriptions of every child's response to the event of a divorce. The article left me wondering what other individual characteristics are called into question as children experience a divorce. May it be culture, income level, or birth order there must be some other explanations.
Sources: http://cpancf.com/articles_files/efffectsdivorceonchildren.asp
Psychology From Inquiry to Understanding By: Scott Lilienfeld
Politifact.com
I thought this was very interesting! I do think that the age of children when their parents get divorced plays a huge role on how it affects each child. I find that children whose parents split when they are really young are not as affected by it as they have grown up with them being divorced. However, I do think that the severity of the parent's relationship also determines how it affects the children. I have a family friend who is in the process of getting a divorce and their 10 year old girl and 14 year old boy want them to just for the peace that will arise within the family. They know it is best for the family and there will be less abuse and disrespect.
I feel like, no matter what the age, Divorce has a deep seeded affect on all who are involved. But I agree that many different people of all ages will handle it very differently. Younger children will be confused and sad while adolescences and teenagers may act out with anger and depression. I know many people affected by divorce it does take a toll on them mentally and physically due to the large amount of change that occurs. My best friends who is 19 had a tough time during the holidays this year because each parent wanted to see him more and more without coming together as a family. Its obviously an extremely difficult situation to go through.