Gandert 1

Abby Gandert
Professor Calhoun
ENG 1201
23 Mar 2020

With nearly one million divorces a year, the United States has the highest divorce rate
than any other country in the world. Further, children are included in around 600,000 of the
aforementioned divorces. (Halligan 557). Because divorces including children are so prevalent
in our modern society, one must consider how this sometimes traumatic event has the ability to
affect the rest of their lives, for better or for worse.

Lots of research has been conducted on this topic in order to find out the psychological
effects that many children experience. Many sources regarding this topic agree in the fact that
children of failed marriages are “2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from serious social or
psychological pathologies.” (Armstrong 3). In addition to this, Bergström states, “[C]hildren with
separated parents show a higher risk for emotional problems and social maladjustment than
those with cohabiting parents.” (qtd. in 138). Finally, a separate source confirms the existence of
increased depression, anxiety, and social problems among children of divorced parents as well.
(Halligan 558). This multitude of statistics from renowned writers was written to prove that an
adverse event such as divorce can be prejudicial to children.

Also agreed upon by different sources, studies have proven that children with divorced
parents are less likely to perform well in academics. (Steinbach 359). (Halligan 558). As
compared to their nuclear family counterparts, (a family with married parents), there are 8
percent fewer high school graduates, 12 percent fewer college attendees, and 11 percent fewer
college graduates. (Brand 3) This is simply another fact that can be confirmed by nearly every
study, children in nuclear families perform better in school. The purpose of this article is to show
that children with divorced parents do not perform as well in school, which is a damaging effect
as a result of the separation.

In contrast, other sources disagree with one another. Armstrong writes that these people
grow up to find difficulty in forming relationships later in life, due to the memory of their parents’
failure, and the lack of exposure to a stable relationship. (2). Another quote that perfectly
summarizes this belief is, “No amount of success in adulthood compensates for an unhappy
childhood or erases the memory of the pain and confusion of their divided world.” (Armstrong 3).
On the contrary, Halligan believes that there are many benefits that come from a parent’s failed
marriage, such as “increased awareness of the complexity of marriage and relationships”, and
“more realistic expectations of marriage and relationships.” (Halligan 558). Halligan also cites
statistics from reliable studies, saying that 65.13 percent of young adults with divorced parents
learned more compassion skills as a result of the divorce, 60.01 percent say that they got to see
different lifestyles, traditions, and values, and 63.16 percent developed a respect for different
points of view. (561). Both of these journals make strong points about how parental divorce
affects future relationships of the children involved. This goes to show that divorces are not
entirely detrimental, which ties into the next point.
 Gandert 2
Abby Gandert
Professor Calhoun
ENG 1201
23 Mar 2020

It is a common belief that most, if not all divorces are harmful for all parties involved, as
stated in the article written by Furstenburg and Kiernan. (448). According to research, this is a
misconception. Another article demonstrates that as a result of divorce, families adhering to a
joint custody agreement are happier, healthier, have more freedom, and more equally share
childcare. (Steinbach 364). Halligan’s article also discusses these benefits, in addition to more
quality time with each individual parent, escaping abusive parents and arguing, and the
happiness that a new stepparent and stepsiblings bring. (559).

In conclusion, the effects of parental divorce on children is harmful, as there is evidence

to prove the effects. Through these sources, one can see how complex the psychology of
children and young adults is, which is further expanded through the addition of the separation of
their parents. As a result, people have improved upon themselves due to childhood events, and
others have a tendency to be scarred, or live through life without knowing what a healthy
relationship looks like.
 Gandert 3
Abby Gandert
Professor Calhoun
ENG 1201
23 Mar 2020

Works Cited

Armstrong, Patti Maguire. “Myth of ‘Happy Divorce’ Studies Now Show Divorce, Long
Viewed as One Solution to Marital Discord, Negatively Affects Children, Especially in
Forming Relationships Later in Life Patti Maguire Armstrong OSV Newsweekly.” Our
Sunday Visitor, 13 Aug. 2017, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=edb&AN=124649884&site=eds-live.

Bergström, Malin, et al. “Children With Two Homes.” Scandinavian Journal of Public
Health, 2019, su.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1241537/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Brand, Jennie E et al. “Parental divorce is not uniformly disruptive to children's

educational attainment.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United
States of America vol. 116,15 (2019): 7266-7271. doi:10.1073/pnas.1813049116

Furstenburg, F., & Kiernan, K. (2001). Delayed parental divorce: How much do children
benefit? Journal of Marriage and Family, 63, 446–457.

Halligan, Caitlin, et al. “Positive Effects of Parental Divorce on Undergraduates.” Journal

of Divorce & Remarriage, vol. 55, no. 7, Oct. 2014, pp. 557–567. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1080/10502556.2014.950905.

Steinbach, Anja. “Children’s and Parents’ Well‐Being in Joint Physical Custody: A

Literature Review.” Family Process, vol. 58, no. 2, June 2019, pp. 353–369.
EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/famp.12372.