Effects of Divorce in America

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Divorce may be the last solution over the consistent conflicts between the couple. However, the problems do not end here. There are many consequences of a legal separation that prove harmful to the couple and children. These effects of separation in America are states below in detail.

Some Facts regarding Divorce in America

These are some conditions that have been observed in the cases of divorced people and their children.

• It increases the chances of addiction among children at an early age. They would indulge in alcohol or start taking drugs.
• There is a 6 to 7 times more possibility that girls would be sexually abused by their stepfathers as compared to their biological fathers.
• Children, who do not have biological fathers, have demonstrated about 3 times more likelihood to commit a crime in their adulthood when compared to children who come from normal families. The nature of the crime can be a serious one in most cases.
• There is a huge possibility that children of divorced parents would become delinquent before they complete 15 years of age.

Thus, the effects of a marriage breakdown in the family can be very disturbing for an individual. There is need to study the detailed consequences before opting for such legal process.

Effects in America - Family and Behavioral Tendencies

Divorce separates the family by breaking a bond between the couple and children, if any. It has been observed that children suffer most in such depart cases compared to their parents.

• Children of divorced parents demonstrate higher divorce rates in adulthood.
• It is noticed that separation between the parents increases the number of children leaving home at an early age. Out of these, a large number of
• children practice cohabitation.
• There is an increase in premarital teenage sexual activity and childbirth out of wedlock. These relationships are several in numbers.
• Rise in the incidences of troubled courtships.
• In adolescence, these children experience problems with accepting their identity and status.
• The social companionship with peers is lessened.
• Disputes within the family are handled in a destructive manner.
• The parent-child relationship is weakened.

Effects of Divorce in America - Mentality of Children and Partners

• Children, whose parents were departed, revealed that they were not 'too happy'. These children often experience loneliness and insecurity.
• Adult children suffered from considerably more mental health problems than adult children of families that are still intact.
• This legal proceeding led to the following mental health problems in children:
  • Exhibiting disruptive tendencies in the classroom
  • Withdrawal from participation in the classroom
  • Hyperactive, impulsive or aggressive demeanor
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Depression
• Adolescent children lead back and skeptical as compared to their peers from normal families regarding the following issues:
  • Friendship
  • Trust
  • Sense of personal control
  • Happiness
  • Social responsibility
• The partners, who remarry after legal separation from their former partner, do not show success in maintaining and saving the second marriages.
• Almost 60 percent of departed partners experience harsh feelings, insecurity and helplessness for the rest of the life.
• Quality of social relationships and love relationships start decreasing after separation.

Economical Effects of Divorce

• It has been surveyed and concluded that 50 percent of the families that have children and experience a divorce become impoverished post divorce.
• Approximately 40 percent of families included in AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) are separated or households having a single parent.
• It may be argued that the custodial parent's house will have the burden of lesser individuals after a separation between the spouses. However, it is obvious that there will be a simultaneous loss of income in the form of income of the non custodial parent. The resultant effect is that the per capita income plummets as compared to the conditions before the separation.
• Let us assume that the poverty rate of an 'always intact married family' is 'a'. Then,
  • The poverty rate of a 'single parent family' is '7.7 X a'
  • The poverty rate of a 'divorced single parent family' is '4.2 X a'
  • The poverty rate of a 'cohabiting couple household' is '3.7 X a'
  • The poverty rate of a 'widowed family' is '3.9 X a'

Thus, these are some harmful consequences of a divorce. These effects are not limited to the socio-economic conditions, but show their influence on the overall personality and professional life of an individual. Therefore, a couple should be aware of all these effects before choosing to dissolve a marriage.

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