Co-parental relationship with both parents planning together for the future of the children and engaging in corroboration of schedules and activities may prevent many, if not all, of the harmful results detailed by McClanahan and Cherlin et al. (1996). In fact, as Buchanan et al. (2007) illustrate, those deterrents together with timely interventions may help adolescents from divorced homes proceed with their lives and help parents and social workers succeed in their strategies formulated to ease children's adjustment to divorce.
In 1991, Cherlin et al. conducted national longitudinal surveys in both England and the U.S.A. Of the effects of divorce on children. In both boys and girls negative effects of divorce were apparent, particularly when compared to intact families. (This replicated the results of McClanahan's research which showed that children from divorced families also seem to have lower academic scores than children from intact families, but socioeconomic and other variables may also have an impact here).
In 2007, however, almost 2 decades later, Buchanan et al. (2007) conducted a longitudinal follow-up study (first stage: 1984-1985 when parents first filed for divorce; follow-up stage -- interview with and observation of adolescents -- 1988-1989) on 1,500 adolescents. They found that the more life stressors, children experienced before divorce took effect the harder the adjustment period were later. Repartnering of parent was sometimes, although not always helpful, and parenting style as well as parental involvement were, among other factors, crucial to adjustments. The research conducted by Buchanan et al. (2007) was more optimistic and positive than that conducted by Cherlin et al. (1991):
Four and half years after their parents had separated, many adolescents were functioning well and could talk to us frankly and articulately about their experiences as members of divorced families (273).
Actions are necessary to reach these results but "for parents who feel they must divorce.. these achievements are possible" (ibid.)
Outcomes that are used to shed light on these changes Popenoe (1993) has grave concerns that the family has whittled down to a barely functional unit that will, in turn, produce malfunctioning children and, consequently, a malfunctioning society. Popenoe's evidence to this extent is the significant increase in divorce since the1960s and the significant slump of childbirth since that same year. These circumstances are due to the changing sex roles, where woman
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