Divorce has become trending in our society today with the increase in domestic violence and feminism movement. Looking at the case of Evans, it give us a projection of what the society might look like in years to come with the new trend.Even in the face of death sentence for their son, we still see Evans's parents throwing blames at one another as a result of the bitterness they still feel from their past relationship. I can imagine little Evans struggling with poverty and growing up with the mindset to make money at all cost.I can imagine the mother blaming the father for their problem encouraging the child the make money so they can spite the father. I can also imagine the father failing to pick up his responsibility just to teach the mother a lesson.Who got messed up in all these drama?
sometimes,divorce is unavoidable but if you must take that option,both parents must be ready to put aside their differences and raise their kids.Things can get rough for a child, who sees his parents bicker and separate. Their minds are still plastic that is they can easily get affected by the events happening around them. Following are the long-term effects of divorce on children:
1. Behavioral and social problems:
A child is at a greater risk of developing violent and antisocial behavior when the parents divorce. He or she may lose temper at the drop of a hat and show no hesitation assaulting someone. In the long run, it may lead to the development of a criminal mindset, especially during the adolescent years. Studies show that most children of divorce display the characteristic traits of aggression and disobedience with varying degree of intensity . Extreme cases of these conditions make the child a social misfit.
2. Trouble with relationships:
When children grow seeing a marriage fail, they develop doubts about love and harmony in a relationship. They have trust issues and find it challenging to resolve conflicts in a relationship. Such children, as adults, will start any relationship with a negative mindset.
3. Prone to substance abuse:
Drugs and alcohol become the avenues for adolescents to vent out their frustration and anxiety. Research has shown a higher incidence of substance abuse in teens whose parents are divorced . Of course, there are other factors like the care provided by the single parent, which determine the adolescent’s tendency to have drugs. However, the probability of an adolescent succumbing to the temptation is considerably high. Long-term substance abuse has damaging effects on the well-being of the child.
4. Depression:
The feeling of anguish and heartbreak caused by parents’ divorce can make a child slip into depression. Depression is a mental health problem, and children who witness divorce have a higher incidence of depression and social withdrawal. Researchers note that divorce can be a contributing factor in cases of bipolar disorder observed in children .
5. Poor education and socio-economic position:
The adverse psychological effects of divorce diminish a child’s interest in education. Children who experience the divorce of their parents show a drastic drop in their school grades .Also the inability of one parent to sponsor the education of the child. Divorce can significantly impede a child’s ability to learn at school and college. A stunted progress in education hampers career prospects of the child as an adult, which make it difficult to have a decent socio-economic status.
Divorce can take a toll on the children’s mental and physical health eventhough some separated parents are far better than quarreling parents.
Divorce is not limited just to the couple but extends to the entire family. The effects are long lasting. Despite the melancholy associated with it, there is a positive way to look at divorce from a child’s poin
t of view if the parents are responsible.