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Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki Mar 2022Family is very important for development of children. Divorce is a life event with a high level of stress for the entire family. Children are dependent on parents and...
Family is very important for development of children. Divorce is a life event with a high level of stress for the entire family. Children are dependent on parents and disadvantaged during divorce because it is out of their control.1 Herein, we present our observations about children whose parents separated or divorced to increase the awareness of physicians about the negative effects of divorce. Individuals affected by parental divorce have a higher risk of developing a variety of mental health conditions including emotional and behavioral disorders, poor school performance, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, distress, smoking and substance abuse.2,3 Externalizing problems in girls precede and predict later parental divorce. Post-divorce problems in children vary by raters, and may depend on the time lapse since divorce.4 Lansford et al 5 noted that early parental divorce/separation is more negatively related to trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems than is later divorce/separation, whereas later divorce/separation is more negatively related to grades. In another study, divorce in parents was significantly associated with higher alcohol use disorder, higher cigarette dependence and higher water pipe dependence in adolescents.6 In the study of Tullius et al 7 the levels of both internalizing and externalizing problems were significantly higher in the period after parental divorce, but not in the period before divorce, with a persistent and increasing effect over the follow-up periods compared to adolescents not experiencing divorce. Zeratsion et al 8 reported that parental divorce in late adolescence does not lead to mental health problems, as has been shown before, while such problems may prevail among young adolescents. This does not mean that parental divorce creates less problems in late adolescence than before but these youths might have developed adjustment abilities against health effects as divorce have turned to be more common. In our clinical practice, we have also observed various emotional, behavioral, psychosomatic, and conversion disorders in children, particularly in preadolescents and adolescents, before and/or after a separation or divorce of parents. Children often lack information and skills to overcome the challenges that the divorce carries. Conflicting relationships between parents make up the biggest obstacle that makes it difficult for a child to successfully deal with changes in the family. Even though parents deal with heavy feelings, it is desirable to put them the child and his interests in the first place. In order to stabilize the family system, 2 to 4 years are usually needed.1 Physicians can assist families by providing support and advice, and advocating for children within systems that serve separating families. Physicians can provide information so that individuals who work with such children recognize, and are sensitive to, their individual needs, and provide supportive and nurturing experiences for the children in schools, camps and sporting activities. These efforts will promote better mental health outcomes for children affected by their parents' separation.9 The most important way to minimize emotional harm to children involved in a separation and divorce is to ensure that children maintain a close and secure relationship with both parents, unless there is spousal or child abuse or neglect, or parental substance abuse.9 Age-appropriate explanation and counseling for the child and advice and guidance for the parents, as well as recommendation of reading material, may help reduce the potential negative effects of divorce. Often, referral to professionals with expertise in the social, emotional, and legal aspects of the separation and its aftermath may be helpful for these families.10 An example of paragraph from a reading material for parents is as follows: The most comprehensive centre of man's worldly life, and its mainspring, and a paradise, refuge, and fortress of worldly happiness, is the life of the family. Everyone's home is a small world for him/her. And the life and happiness of his/her home and family are possible through genuine, earnest, and loyal respect and true, tender, and self-sacrificing compassion. This true respect and genuine kindness may be achieved with the idea of the members of the family having an everlasting companionship and friendship and togetherness, and their parental, filial, brotherly, and friendly relations continuing for all eternity in a limitless life, and their believing this.11 In conclusion, we would like emphasize that various psychosocial, psychosomatic and conversion disorders may be seen in children affected by parental divorce. Physicians interested in child health can notice parents' separation problems during evaluation of children. Referral to professionals with expertise in separation may be helpful for conflicting parents.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety Disorders; Child; Divorce; Female; Humans; Male; Parents
PubMed: 34860682
DOI: 10.22365/jpsych.2021.040 -
Psychiatria Danubina Oct 2020Divorce is a life event with a high level of stress for the entire family. Research shows that the number of divorces is on a steady rise. Family is very important for...
Divorce is a life event with a high level of stress for the entire family. Research shows that the number of divorces is on a steady rise. Family is very important for development of the children and changes within the family, after the divorce, could make consequences on them. Children are dependent on parents and disadvantaged during divorce because it is out of their control. They cannot predict how long will it take and what will be the outcome of divorce which includes separation from close family members, school change, change of home, change of life style and so on. Children often lack information and skills to overcome the challenges that the divorce carries. Conflicting relationships between parents make up the biggest obstacle that makes it difficult for a child to successfully deal with changes in the family. Even though parents deal with heavy feelings, it is desirable to put them the child and his interests in the first place. In order to stabilize the family system it is needed 2 up to 4 years. Children differ from one another in the reactions to the divorce, but there are some emotional reactions that are characteristic for most children of divorced parents, and the most often children reactions are of depressive symptoms, anxiety, anger, lower self-esteem and so on. The emotional reactions of children during the divorce can vary relative to the gender and age of the child. However, the divorce of a parent does not necessarily have to be so negative for children, especially if parents behave in an adequate way and they endeavor to act in such a way to make this process as painless as possible for children.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Divorce; Female; Humans; Male; Parents; Psychology, Child; Self Concept
PubMed: 33030452
DOI: No ID Found -
Psychological Bulletin Jul 1991This meta-analysis involved 92 studies that compared children living in divorced single-parent families with children living in continuously intact families on measures... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
This meta-analysis involved 92 studies that compared children living in divorced single-parent families with children living in continuously intact families on measures of well-being. Children of divorce scored lower than children in intact families across a variety of outcomes, with the median effect size being .14 of a standard deviation. For some outcomes, methodologically sophisticated studies yielded weaker effect sizes than did other studies. In addition, for some outcomes, more recent studies yielded weaker effect sizes than did studies carried out during earlier decades. Some support was found for theoretical perspectives emphasizing parental absence and economic disadvantage, but the most consistent support was found for a family conflict perspective.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Divorce; Female; Humans; Male; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Parent-Child Relations; Personality Development
PubMed: 1832495
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.110.1.26 -
Psychosomatic Medicine Apr 2015Social relationships play a vital role in health and well-being, and it follows that loss experiences can be highly stressful for some people. This article reviews what... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Social relationships play a vital role in health and well-being, and it follows that loss experiences can be highly stressful for some people. This article reviews what is known about the association between marital separation, divorce, and health outcomes.
METHODS
Key findings in the area of divorce and health are discussed, and the review outlines a series of specific questions for future research. In particular, the article integrates research in social epidemiology with research in social psychophysiology. The former approach provides a broad-based estimate of the association between marital status and health outcomes, whereas the latter approach studies mechanisms of action and individual differences associated with increased risk for poor outcomes.
RESULTS
The experience of separation or divorce confers risk for poor health outcomes, including a 23% higher mortality rate. However, most people cope well and are resilient after their marriage or long-term relationship ends. Despite the fact that resilience is the most common response, a small percentage of people (approximately 10%-15%) struggle quite substantially, and it seems that the overall elevated adverse health risks are driven by the poor functioning of this group. Several candidate mechanisms and novel (ambulatory) assessment techniques that may elucidate the poor outcomes among people who adapt poorly to separation are discussed.
CONCLUSIONS
To increase knowledge on the association between divorce and health, three primary areas require more research: a) genetic and third variable explanations for divorce-related health outcomes, (b) better studies of objective social behavior after separation, and (c) increased attention to interventions targeting high-risk adults.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Divorce; Health Status; Humans; Mortality; Resilience, Psychological; Risk Factors
PubMed: 25829240
DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000168 -
Journal of Family Psychology : JFP :... Sep 2019Despite widespread acknowledgment that "frequent, continuing, and meaningful" (Pruett & DiFonzo, 2014) time with both parents is beneficial for children from divorced or...
Despite widespread acknowledgment that "frequent, continuing, and meaningful" (Pruett & DiFonzo, 2014) time with both parents is beneficial for children from divorced or separated families, and that interparental conflict (IPC) is associated with increased child mental health problems, the joint effects of parenting time (PT), parenting quality (PQ), and IPC on children's mental health problems are less clear. The current study integrates two theoretical models in multiple mediator analyses to test indirect effects of mothers' and fathers' PQ and IPC to explain the association between PT and children's mental health problems within the same model. Participants were children aged 9-18 years ( = 141) who had one or both parents participate in a randomized comparative effectiveness trial of a court-based prevention program for high-conflict divorcing or separating families. Data were collected at pretest and 9-month follow-up. Analyses revealed an indirect effect in which fathers' PQ mediated the association between PT and child internalizing problems both concurrently and 9 months later. There were no significant indirect effects involving IPC. Analyses indicated a significant quadratic relation between PT and fathers' PQ, suggesting that although more PT is associated with better father-child relationships, there is a point beyond which more time is not related to a better relationship. We discuss the study findings, research limitations, and implications for public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Divorce; Family Conflict; Female; Humans; Male; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Parents; Time
PubMed: 31318261
DOI: 10.1037/fam0000556 -
Pediatrics in Review Aug 1995
Review
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Child; Child Custody; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Divorce; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Physician's Role
PubMed: 7567701
DOI: 10.1542/pir.16-8-306 -
Stress and Health : Journal of the... Oct 2020Traditionally, the concept of burnout has been applied to the workspace but recent research suggests its applicability to more general contexts such as the family...
Traditionally, the concept of burnout has been applied to the workspace but recent research suggests its applicability to more general contexts such as the family sphere. The present study applies burnout to the divorce context and (a) proposes and statistically tests the Divorce Burnout Model (DBM), (b) investigates the contribution of sociodemographic variables and divorce characteristics to burnout scores, and (c) investigates the relationship between burnout scores and the number of sick days and days of absence from work. Using a cross-sectional design and a sample of 1,856 recently divorced Danish citizens, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis verified the DBM´s good fit to data. Using this model, for men, it was found that fewer previous divorces, former spouse initiation of divorce, not having a new partner and a higher degree of conflict significantly predicted higher levels of divorce burnout. For women, lower income, former spouse divorce initiation, not having a new partner, and a higher level of conflict significantly predicted higher levels of divorce burnout. Across gender, burnout scores were found to significantly predict number of sick days and days of absence from work in the past 3 months over and above sociodemographic variables, divorce related characteristics, and depressive symptoms.
Topics: Burnout, Psychological; Cross-Sectional Studies; Divorce; Female; Humans; Male
PubMed: 32141221
DOI: 10.1002/smi.2940 -
Family Process Mar 2022Divorce has received scant attention in Iran, despite the problems that arise for individuals and families and in social life. The present study aimed to find the...
Divorce has received scant attention in Iran, despite the problems that arise for individuals and families and in social life. The present study aimed to find the divorce process of the Iranian couples among whom the woman was the divorce initiator. For this purpose, interviews were conducted, using the grounded theory method, with 34 Iranian divorcing men and women (women initiating a divorce and their spouses) to investigate their divorce experience. The results revealed that the psychological, communication, cultural, and social factors involved in the divorce phenomenon were observed in five stages: (1) emergence of thinking about divorce, (2) hesitation on stay, (3) difficult decision-making, (4) separation, and (5) legal action. Despite more restrictive laws and more complicated social conditions for women initiating divorce than men, the number of women initiating the divorce is increasing in the changing cultural context of Iran. Therefore, we hope that our results on the divorce process help couples, families, and especially professionals plan preventive measures and develop clinical interventions targeting marriage and marital relationships.
Topics: Divorce; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; Marriage; Qualitative Research; Spouses
PubMed: 33864248
DOI: 10.1111/famp.12655 -
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy Oct 2022Divorce conflict is the main driver of adverse postdivorce health adjustments among divorcing families. Despite the growing potential of online divorce support programs,...
Divorce conflict is the main driver of adverse postdivorce health adjustments among divorcing families. Despite the growing potential of online divorce support programs, there is concern that such solutions might not be sufficient to impact health-related disparities among high-conflict divorcees. The present study examined the effectiveness of the digital "Cooperation after Divorce" intervention as a function of conflict among 1856 recently divorced Danish residents. Linear mixed-effect regression modeling suggested that, although higher levels of divorce conflict at judicial divorce predicted worse health outcomes up to 1 year following divorce, the effectiveness of the digital divorce intervention did not vary as a function of the initial level of divorce conflict. Individuals in the intervention group with higher conflict in divorce still reported worse health at 12 months follow-up than those with lower levels of divorce conflict; however, much lower than the control group.
Topics: Divorce; Humans
PubMed: 35288952
DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12588 -
ASDC Journal of Dentistry For Children 1997Limited attention has been directed in the dental literature to the emotional, economic and associated consequences of divorces on children. A general introduction is... (Review)
Review
Limited attention has been directed in the dental literature to the emotional, economic and associated consequences of divorces on children. A general introduction is provided on 1) the numbers of children involved in divorces in different single-parent population groups, with 2) emphasis on the emotional impact of divorce on children and 3) the potential significance for pediatric dental practices.
Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Child; Dental Care for Children; Divorce; Emotions; Father-Child Relations; Female; Humans; Male; Mother-Child Relations; Psychology, Child; Sex Factors; Single Parent; Social Class; Social Support; United States
PubMed: 9391713
DOI: No ID Found