Tacloban City, Leyte

Leyte Normal Univeristy

December 9, 2019

A Case Study of
The effects of Divorce to children

Melba C. Navarra
Child and Adolescent Instructor

Members:
Rexon Agrava
Ralph Dungzal
Angelo Del Monte
Kyle Villar
Camilo Malibago
Jericho Lar
 I. PROBLEMS IN DIVORCE TO CHILDREN

“A family that stays together prays together” this is one of the famous lines that makes a family
strong and resilient no matter what the situation is. Somehow there are still families that are meant
to be broken no matter how hard they try to fix the relationship it always end up in a fight or
separation or much worse divorce and families that are broken are most likely could affect the
behavior of their child.
1. Does a child feel anxiety towards the separation of his /her parents?
2. What will happen to the development of the child without his/her parents?
3. How will a child behave to the community?
4. What will be the outcome of a child when he or she reaches 20 years later?
5. What to do when a child is experiencing family problems?

II. INTRODUCTION
Family is the core for the development of a child without a family a child could either
understand the situation or it could be a crisis to them. Divorce can be really difficult for a
child to understand because it invades their heart and mind that they might lose their parents.
Divorce is meant to destroy the image of the family where it could lead to distrust and anxiety
to a child. A child that is affected by the divorce of their parents are experiencing different
problems such as depression, anxiety, mistrust, emotional sensitivity, academic performances
and etc. this problems could lead further dispositions to the child until it grows up and could
affect his own lifestyle.
 III. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Divorce nowadays has been rapidly undergoing. It enables families to be distorted and ruined by
different causes. To which it may concerns the child for whatever accountable reasons for any
parents could be. According to Frank F. Furstenburg, Jr., et al., (Oct. 1983), a child could feel
anxiety and depression towards the separation of his/her parents and it could always lead to
problems to the society this includes the academic challanges, emotional sensitivity, difficulty
adopting to change, loose of interest in social activity, Irritability, depression, anxiety, Increase in
health problems, destructive behavior. A child feels guilty towards the separation of its parents
because a child blames himself for the divorce. Children need to know that they are not responsible
for the divorce of their parents and after a divorce parents must decide for the child's living
arrangements and parental roles. Joint physical custody occurs when both parents share parenting
decisions, and the child lives not more than 60% and not less than 40% of the time with each
parent. Joint legal custody occurs when both parents retain rights to make parenting decisions;
however, the child may live primarily with one parent. Sole legal custody occurs when one parent
loses parental rights to make decisions, but still has parental obligations to support the child
financially. Sole legal custody may be appropriate if one parent has shown a gross inability to
parent or is abusive toward the other parent. Joint physical custody may present the best or worst
of all worlds. After having these kinds of arrangements it does not stop the child to elaborately end
up understanding everything but it could be their aspiration of their future. Children of divorced
parents often bitterly vow not to repeat the same mistakes. They want to avoid putting themselves
and their own children through the pain that comes from the dissolution of a marriage. But
according to Nicholas H. Wolfinger,these children's aspirations face unfavorable odds. "Growing
up in a divorced family greatly increases the chances of ending one's own marriage, a phenomenon
called the divorce cycle or the intergenerational transmission of divorce."
IV. ALTERNATIVES

Divorce cost too much for any married couple could take. Having to know that there are
alternatives that could easily be a way to separate someone at a more benificial cost. This so
called alternatives could be Separation, mediation, annulment and etc. This alternatives could
either be the best way for any married couple could do without spending too much of what
they have. Under a legal separation, the couple lives apart, but their marriage remains intact in
the eyes of the law. Thus, you would typically not be permitted to remarry while you are legally
separated, since you are not officially divorced. And when an annulment is granted, the
marriage is treated as if it never happened. In a divorce, the marriage is legally over, but is
recognized as having once existed. This alternatives can potentially minimize the fallout for
the entire family and provide a springboard for a healthier next life stage. Somehow this
alternatives are being rejected because of the inability to support the child through means of
family support and tender love that comes from a whole family. Having a child to experience
this kinds of alternatives will not solve anything but tremendous dispositions a child could
take. The ugly truth of having alternatives is that does not give assurance to the well- being of
a family because one claims benificiary but not of the whole family and one example is the
child. Parents may benefit from it but the child they made would not. But some child may
benefit from it depending on the case of their parents. annulment,separation and other
alternatives may not be needed if the case of the parents are still accountable and may be able
to be fixed through different steps or process.

V. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

Go for counseling, allowing one's self to throw the pride is to let someone help you. In a
relationship that is nearly sinking they must allow people or a professional expert in marriage
to help them. Especially they will be given the time to express how they feel towards each
other and they will be soon to recall all the moments the couple had for each other and reflect
of what they have done against each other and also to make quality time work again together
because when things gets old married couples forget to have quality time for each other because
of work and other occupancies. Understanding one's partner is just like loving someone who
is not perfect but you chose that partner to be perfect for your relationship. And as for a happy
family should always cherish the children for they are the fruits of your love. And according
to research, marriage counseling is proven to improve physical and emotional intimacy,
increase communication and establish an overall better connection between spouses which
enables you to find solutions to divorce.
 VI. RECOMMENDATIONS

For a successful relationship and an unbreakable family planning we adhere the families to be
aware of the people who are very dear to them. Family comes first before anything else because it
was God given. Marriage counseling is much apprehended to the marriage couples/parents who
are accountable of their separations and personal cases which could lead to a disaster in the future.
Being able to withstand further problems in the end, parents must always take care of their children
with rights and love. Marriage counseling is always there to back up broken families through
means of communications and through media and other ways. Seeking people who are having this
kinds of problem must know that marriage counseling is always there to help. And to the children,
they must always be willing to help the family in times of need and through gathering the bond of
the family.