Impact of Divorce Is Deeper Than Once Thought

August 19, 2011 (Press-News.org) Impact of Divorce Is Deeper Than Once Thought

We know that children of divorcing parents suffer, but the impact may be deeper than once thought. While the emotional difficulties facing these kids has rarely been questioned, a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is further studying the changes that occur in students' schoolwork.

The study is tracking children between the ages of 6 and 9, looking at their math and reading scores during the period of time when their parents split up. It is also looking at emotional disturbances these children experience, such as anxiety, depression and a decline in social skills.

According to the study, these kids see a significant drop in math scores during the divorce. They also have a tendency to suffer from anxiety, depression, and poor social skills for up to two years.

This study is the first to track children pre-divorce, during divorce and post-divorce phases. Interestingly, the drama and unrest in the home pre-divorce did not appear to cause a tremendous change. Children only started to suffer after the divorce proceedings began. The results of the study indicate that children need intervention as early as possible.

Some of the problems, like the diminished social skills, have not conclusively been shown to be immediately reversible. It also appears from the study that the problems surrounding divorce and kids do not transcend all of the ages of youth. It appears that kids up to the age of seven are the most vulnerable to these problems.

So what are parents to do when they feel divorce is their only option? While divorce may not be avoidable in some marriages, parents need to address divorce in such a way that the emotional scars and social adjustments their kids endure are as small as possible. Professionals should work with the kids of divorce as early as possible to provide care and support to these vulnerable children.

Article provided by Magner, Hueneke, Smith & Borda, LLP
Visit us at http://www.mhslaw.net