How Divorce Affect Young Children and Teenagers for a Sociology Class

¶ … Divorce Affects Children and Teenagers

This paper presents a discussion about how divorce affects children and teenagers. The writer takes a sociological path in exploring the long-term affects on the individuals and then how that related to society. There were five sources used to complete this paper.

During the last four decades the divorce rate began to climb not only in America but also across the globe. As families began to live in separate houses researchers took on the task of studying the affects of the divorce on children and teenagers (Dunn, 1999). Now, four decades later the results are in and the experts agree divorce has an undeniable negative impact on children and teenagers. This is not to say the negative impact cannot be counterbalanced but it must be recognized as a given for groups of people affected by divorce if the world wants to correct the affects from a sociological point-of-view (Dunn, 1999).

Studies have concluded that children and teenagers of divorce are more likely to suffer from mental health problems when they reach adulthood. One recent study used hundreds adults with known mental health issues whose parents had divorced before they were 17 years old. It is interesting to note the children whose parent had died were also studied and the negative impact was greater on the children of divorce than the children who lost a parent to death.

The patients in the study suffered from clinical depression, manic depression or schizophrenia. They were compared with others who never suffered psychological disorders. The two groups were matched exactly by age, sex, education and ethnic background (Dunn, 1999). "

This leads to the social aspect of the affect of divorce on children and adolescents. If the children and teens of divorce are more likely to suffer from serious mental health issues as adults this does affect society in a negative manner. Those who have severe mental illness sometimes cannot function on a job; therefore need to collect disability benefits. There are problems for those who do work and function in society when they have a mental illness as well. The inability to be a team player or get along with others can have grave consequences in personal relationships, which can lead to a generational cycle of divorce and generations of children and teens at high risk for mental health issues as adults.

Studies further indicate that teens of divorced families often have a harder time adjusting to and enduring the already difficult teen years. Teens have a higher rate of smoking, getting divorce themselves as adults and trouble with the law if they come from a home of divorced parents. (Divorce 1996) Approximately 700,000 couples with children divorce each year in the United States. This growing number will have an impact on society, as the children of these divorces become adults themselves (Thomas, 1998).

They are a social problem with significant societal costs. More than one in two marriages in the United States now end in divorce - the highest rate in the world. And a majority of these divorces - about 60% - are among couples with children. For years while the divorce rate was skyrocketing, social scientists argued that children were largely unaffected by divorce (Thomas, 1998). Many even argued that children were better off being raised by a single parent than they were watching parents quarrel or remain in a loveless marriage. But evidence to the contrary has mounted over the past two decades (Thomas, 1998). Now there is little doubt - based on overwhelming research results - that, on average, children of divorce are worse off than those who grow up in intact families (Thomas, 1998). Children of divorce are more likely to be truant, to do poorly in school and to get in trouble with the law than children who grow up with both parents (Thomas, 1998)." well-known California-based study concluded that more than one third of children from divorce suffer at least one bout of depression even five years after the split (Thomas, 1998).

Studies of children are contradictory, and many have serious methodological limitations. Nevertheless, the majority show that children of divorce are more likely to exhibit psychological, behavioral, social, and academic problems than children raised in continuously intact two-parent families (Amato, 1995)."

This information is significant for several reasons. The millions of children and teens who are in a divorced family will grow up to be adults someday. These adults can either contribute to society or become a negative influence on society. Studies show that children of divorce are more likely to suffer mental and social problems as they become adults therefore it is safe to concludes that children of divorce will have a harder time becoming positive contributors to society than children in tact homes (Amato, 1995).