Children of Divorced and Separated Parents: Summary and Review of Findings from a Long-Term Follow-Up Study in the UK

Abstract

As divorce and separation rates continue to rise it is likely that problems among the children of such parents will also continue to increase. The nature of short term problems for the children of separating parents are well known. There is now evidence of a risk of longer term difficulties which may be the result of a chain of circumstances which begins close in time to the separation and divorce. Long term as well as short term risks should therefore be considered in planning care strategies for the children of divorcing parents.

Lifetime risk factors for women's psychological distress in midlife

“…A long term effect of parental divorce on anxiety and depression has been previously shown for women in this cohort when they were 36 and 43 years old (Rodgers, 1990a;Kuh & Maclean, 1990;Rodgers, 1994Rodgers, , 1996 and other studies have found similar results (Rodgers, Power, & Hope, 1997;Kessler & Magee, 1993;McLeod, 1991;O'Connor, Thorpe, Dunn, & Golding, 1999). These findings extend into middle age the substantial body of evidence to show that children of divorced parents have more short term health and behavioural problems, less successful educational, occupational and marital careers, and poorer mental health and health habits in adult life in this study (Wadsworth, Maclean, Kuh, & Rodgers, 1991) and elsewhere (Amato, 2000;Amato & Keith, 1991a, b;Hetherington & StanleyHagan, 1999;Rodgers & Pryor, 1998). Generally studies have found that parental conflict rather than divorce as such appears to increase the risk of adverse outcomes (Amato & Keith, 1991a;Hess, 1995;Mechanic & Hansell, 1989).…”

Health inequalities in the life course perspective

“…Children in poorer home circumstances, and with parents with low educational attainment, have reduced chances of preschool experience [27,56], which provides a disadvantaged beginning to the school years [56,57], and a consequent long-term health disadvantage, since, in adult life, little or no educational attainment is associated with poor health related habits and health [7,58]. Findings on family circumstances, in terms of parental relationships and physical health in infancy, have shown associations between quality of maternal care and health [59], that infants and children in poor socio-economic circumstances are at greater risk of injury [60,61], and that those in families experiencing chronic parental emotional disruption are at greater risk of disturbed behaviour [62], and intentional injury [61].…”

“…Two studies [62,111] have found that children who experienced parental divorce or separation achieved significantly lower educational qualifications than would have been expected. It was hypothesised that this was perhaps because of moving schools, as a result of moving home, or of the child's perception of the need to leave school at the earliest opportunity in order to increase the family income or to begin an independent life.…”

“…It may also be that changes in, and perhaps greater reliance on, age peer groups following parental separation or divorce play a part in this hypothesised process. Whatever the explanations for this finding, the effect on offspring of experiencing parental divorce or separation was found in one longitudinal study to be a reduction in income levels in subsequent adult life, an increased chance of lower occupational levels, and a raised risk of unemployment [62]. It was found, in the same study, that those whose parents had divorced or separated were themselves at significantly increased risk of divorce, of smoking, and among women, of higher than average alcohol intake, and in men higher than average smoking [62].…”

“…Whatever the explanations for this finding, the effect on offspring of experiencing parental divorce or separation was found in one longitudinal study to be a reduction in income levels in subsequent adult life, an increased chance of lower occupational levels, and a raised risk of unemployment [62]. It was found, in the same study, that those whose parents had divorced or separated were themselves at significantly increased risk of divorce, of smoking, and among women, of higher than average alcohol intake, and in men higher than average smoking [62]. Another longitudinal study has shown lower self-esteem amongst offspring living in circumstances of family conflict, and significantly reduced reports of wellbeing and of increased numbers of physical symptoms were also made by female offspring living in such circumstances [73].…”