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Isabella Conti
Professor Jones
English Composition
April 29, 2019
Psychological Effects of Parental Divorce on Adolescents in US
Divorce is the outcome of a failed marriage, which could be as a result of infidelity, falling out of
love, abuse, and lack of financial or emotional support for the family (Doherty and William).
Children in such failed marriages are often at the receiving end causing very unpleasant
outcomes for them such as stress, emotional instability, anxiety, depression, and low
self-confidence (González and Tarja). Most studies on the effects of divorce on children has
focused more on younger children because most failed marriages involved new couples within
three to five years in marriage; these trend has taken a different angle that has seen couples with
over 15 years of marriage getting divorced (González and Tarja). Though adolescents of failed
marriages are mature enough to understand the situation of their parents, it does not any way
minimize the psychological effect of parental divorce (Katya Ivanova). Since divorcing is
attributed to a diverse reason, it then begs the question, what the prevailing circumstances
leading to parental divorce of adolescents are, what the effects of parental divorce have on
adolescents, how do these adolescents cope with feelings they get as result of the divorce of their
parents and if the outcome can be prevented when divorce is inevitable. This article discusses
why parental divorce affect adolescent in spite of their ability to understand prevailing
circumstances leading to the divorce, how adolescent try to cope with the issues of parental
divorce, what parents can do to reduce the effect of the divorce on their teenagers, and available
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help to prevent the psychological effects of parental divorce on their child. This is to give a clear
understanding of issues surrounding divorce and effective ways to help adolescent from such
homes cope.
Prevailing Circumstances that Makes Divorce Hard on Adolescents
Although most people try to stay in a marriage to give their children the protection a family
provides, divorce might be the best way to end an abusive marriage that could endanger the
health and wellbeing of the adolescent involved (Palosan and Hillevi). Physical abuse on the
child and the affected spouse usually the mother is a common circumstance that might lead to
divorce with the aim of protecting the child. The number of reported abuse in recent years in the
family both physically and sexually has reached a new peak in the early 2000’s (Amato and
Anthony). Even with this genuine intent to protect the child from the psychological, physical,
emotional, and sometimes sexual abuse from one of their parent, divorce can none the less be a
very painful experience for the adolescent or teenager whose parent is breaking up (Schilling).
The reason why parental divorce affects the adolescent deeply includes the following:
Identity Crises
. During the period of adolescent children are just beginning to develop their
identity and question things around them. As much as they will want to stand apart from their
parents and be free moral agent of their own, attitudes and the family condition of their parents
greatly influence identity formation of teenagers (American Academy). As such if the marriage
of their parent collapses to the point of divorce the stigma is reflected negatively on the child’s
identity (American Academy). This might then negatively affect the adolescent’s confidence
among peers and could be the beginning of issues relating to inferiority complex.
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Emotional Changes.
There is also the possibility of change in standard of living and support that
the adolescent is already use to, which could disrupt existing relationships forged by the
adolescent (Fischer). This could be a drop in financial status of the parent having custody as a
result of the divorce leading to their inability to access certain facility that the child is already use
to (Fischer). It might also be in the form of changing neighborhood due to the inability to retain
current accommodation, as such losing all the friends and acquaintance both in school and at
home (Fischer). The aforementioned could then lead to isolation, disobedience, and depression.
Support for Parent.
There is no divorce that leaves the spouses undergoing the break up
absolutely happy and content with the turn of event. Therefore, divorce is always filled with
unresolved emotions and sometimes physical scars to show for it. Some heartbroken spouse
often turn to their adolescent children for support, even though parents are fully aware that these
children are not emotionally strong enough to resolve their own emotional issues (Ginsburg and
Kinsman). These could lead to overwhelming stress that could trigger serious psychological
disorder and make the adolescent look outwards for support from less experienced peers like
themselves in a bid to resolve their own crises (Ginsburg and Kinsman). No matter the cause of
divorce or how much the child understands the prevailing situation the three factors mentioned
above will likely affect a child when the parent divorce.
Adolescent Reaction to Parental Divorce
There are three pathological and one positive reaction to parental divorce, they include the
following:
Exacerbating Pre-existing Conditions
. Usually adolescents face many challenges from peer
pressure to hormonal overshoot that can make them indulge in vices (Ham). These conditions
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might not be fully recognized or properly dealt with when they first surface, or could even be
scarcely displayed by the child before the divorce (Heifetz). But when their parents are no longer
together or experiencing a difficult divorce such pre-existing conditions like depression and
emotional instability may result to full blown psychological conditions (Heifetz). These might
require the immediate psychiatric medical attention for it to be brought under control. The lack
of emotional support from both parents or over indulgence of both parent in supporting the child
through difficult moments might further complicate the health progress of the child.
Premature Attempts to Enter into Adulthood.
This group falls under the category of adolescent
who are torn apart as a result of their parent’s divorce and may not be sure or happy about the
divide they fall into in terms of parental custody (Jeynes). They therefore attempt to become
