Effects of Divorce on Children

Outline of Week Six Paper

Melanie Graves

Psy/600

Vinetta Cooper

September 16, 2013

Outline of Week Six Paper

The topic of choice for the report due in week six will be about the effects of divorce on children. Included in the outline of this report is an introduction to the effects of divorce. Also included in this report will be three subtopics that covers the main content of the report. The subtopics include parent-child relationships, economic hardship, and behavioral problems.

Effects of Divorce on Children

There is increased risks for children whose parents have divorced to have severe problems. The problems are more apparent in children whose parents divorced compared to other children who live in a continuous intact family (Block, Kemp, & Smith,2013). Children who have parents divorced suffer from many difficulties and stress. For example, the children may experience anger, anxiety, and depression. It is the parents responsibility to offer emotional support, getting along with one another, do not argue in front of the children, be truthful about the matter, and staying on a consistent schedule or routine as much as possible will help the children adjust better to the difficult situation. However, it may take some time for the children to work through his or her issues pertaining to the divorce, but over a period of time the parents should notice a gradual improvement.

Parent-Child Relationships

Parent and children relationships after a divorce can be very problematic. The quality and quantity between the non-custodial parent and children decrease over a period of time (Booth, 1996). Majority of the time the custodial parent would be the mother and the non-custodial parent would be the is the father. However, tension can arise in the mother-child relationship as well. A divorce can ruin a child's life. A child may become hostile to one parent or both if he or she believes that the parents are failing to meet the needs of security, love, and financially. To ensure a bond with children, a parent needs to have patience and do not blame the other parent for the divorce. Often times when parents divorce, either the mother or the father are blaming one another for the divorce. One parent can out of spite attempt to cause an argument between the other parent and the child on purpose just to make the child hate or resent the other parent or have it where that parent does not want anything to do with the children. Over a period of time resentment will build up with a child and that relationship with either parent maybe jeopardized. Divorce can be a long time affect on a child if the relationship between the parents and children are not resolved in an appropriate and timely manner (Booth, 1996). That is why it is so important not to put down the other parent in front of the children and not to argue in front of the children either. A parent needs to be truthful with a child and reassure