Shocking Statistics about the Psychological and Physical Effects of Divorce on Children

Effects of Divorce to Children Children of Divorced Parents Statistics Shocking Statistics on Children of Divorce mental health academic performance suicide Juvenila Deliquency Poverty

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Nov 02, 08:27 pm

It cannot be denied that divorce does not only have an intense, profound impact on all the parties involved, but also long-lasting, especially for the kids.

Studies have revealed that children are the most likely to struggle and face a difficult time during the divorce of their parents. Their physical, psychological, and intellectual well-being can all be affected by the new and painful family dynamic.

Parents who are going through, have gone through or are still planning to go through a divorce need to keep in mind that their children will not just be by-standers or simply willing witnesses of their decision to separate and its effects.

It does not mean that they should force themselves to be together. But it means that aside from their own personal emotions and happiness, their children, and what they think, and how they feel should be a priority, because if it would not, the effects on the latter might be worse than the divorce battle, and it can be long-term.

'Eye-opening statistics'

Legal Jobs presents some shocking and eye-opening statistics about children of divorce parents.

1. Twenty-one percent of children in America are being raised without their fathers, according to the Census Bureau.

Children of divorce statistics revealed that it is the father who is usually absent from their children's life, resulting in these children living only with their custodial mothers. Divorced mothers are found to balance work and family obligations better than fathers. Thus, children with just the mother are significantly more common than living with the father.

However, it is reported that the number of children living with their father has increased more than 4 times, which is due to more fathers striving to take on parenting roles in this generation. From 0.8 million children in 1968, the number grew to 3.3 million, or 4.5 percent currently.

2. Children whose parents divorced when they were between 7 to 14 are more likely to experience behavior issues, as per a study by the University College London.

Statistics revealed that there is a 16% increase in behavioral and emotional problems in this specific age bracket as compared to other ages.

3. Children with divorced parents are twice as likely to commit suicide, according Science Daily.

One of the most horrifying effects of divorce on children is the fact that suicidal thoughts are considerably more extensive among minors from broken homes. Thus, it is very crucial for parents to account for the risk and give additional attention to their children's behavior. Changes, no matter how slight, should be attended to.

It is suggested that children see a therapist during this confusing period to help them understand what is happening and to be able to talk to someone who is indirectly involved in the marriage breakup.

4. Children with divorced parents are 4 times as likely to have trouble fitting in as reported by City University of New York.

Kids from broken homes have more difficulty interacting with their peers. They are four times more likely to encounter problems with their friends than children from intact families.

5. Teenagers whose parents divorce are more likely to struggle with mental health issues, according to an article from Very Well Family.

Not only that teenagers with divorced parents struggle with mental health but are also more likely to experience serious mental health problems that would eventually require medication, counseling, or both.

Teenagers with divorced parents are about 3 times as likely to require counseling over the course of a year, as per a published research in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Out of school, poverty & imprisonment

7. Seventy percent of inmates incarcerated for long-term sentences grew up in broken homes and family separation, according to the US Department of Justice.

Research about the connection of divorce and juvenile offenders revealed that children of divorced parents are up to 6 times more likely to be delinquent than children from intact families.

A reason for this is that divorce often disrupts family structure and creates an environment of confusion, chaos and conflict. As a result, feelings of insecurity and isolation from children can surface that can potentially lead to delinquent behavior. Moreover, children of divorce have difficulty finding a sense of self-worth and instead find approval from their peers through criminal activity.

7. Children with divorced parents are at a greater risk of living in poverty, as per Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC).

Children of divorced parents are 5 times more likely to live in poverty than those who still live with both parents. This may be the statistic that comes less surprising compared to others as a "divorced household" has to make ends meet using a single income.

"Even with alimony and child support, the economic security of single-parent families rarely equals that of two-parent families," explained Legal Jobs.

8. Children with divorced parents are twice as likely to stop going to school and eventually drop out of high school, according to the National Library of Medicine.

There is a reported undeniable link between divorce and a kid's academic performance.

Figures revealed that kids with divorced parents are 2 times as likely to end up dropping out of high school compared to their classmates who are living with both biological parents. Further, the grade point average (GPA) of high schoolers from intact, nuclear families is 11 percent higher than students from broken families.

Not all statistics is miserable thoug. There are some broken family statistics which revealed that children who grew up in single parent households because of divorce have developed resilience, a deeper understanding of "complex interpersonal interactions," and empathy. These are all due to the need to cope with all the challenging emotional encounters brought along by the divorce of their parents and the results thereafter.