New study shows children of divorce fall behind peers in school and suffer psychologically only AFTER the split, rather than during parents' period of marital conflict.
For background, read Divorce Still Damaging to Children Despite Being More Acceptable
-- From "Children of Divorce Struggle More With Math and Social Skills" by Bonnie Rochman, Healthland 6/2/11
Children of divorce have poorer math and interpersonal social skills than their peers, and they battle anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem and sadness, according to new research published Thursday in the American Sociological Review.
They have trouble forming and maintaining friendships, expressing their feelings in positive ways, showing sensitivity to others' feelings, comforting other children and getting along with people who are different, according to Hyun Sik Kim, the study's author and a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Although Kim anticipated finding evidence that children struggle in the “pre-divorce period,” before parents initiate divorce proceedings, the study found otherwise. Rather than reacting to the perceived conflict that leads to moms and dads filing for divorce, children start struggling once the divorce is underway.
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From "Children of Divorce Suffer Academic, Social and Emotional Setbacks" by Drucilla Dyess, HealthNews 6/2/11
According to the study, children of divorce have a greater likelihood of grappling with anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, and sadness. What’s worse, the intensification of the negative emotions they endure begins with the dissolution of their parents’ marriage, and these “internalizing problem behaviors” don’t go away.
Dr Kim stated, “This study reveals that these negative impacts do not worsen in the post-divorce stage, although there is no sign that children of divorce catch up with their counterparts either."
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From "Divorce can hurt kids' math scores, friendships" by Alan Mozes, Shreveport Times 6/5/11
Children may be stressed by an ongoing parental blame game or child custody conflicts. This stress could be compounded by the loss of stability when a child is shuttled between separate households or has to move to another region altogether, thus losing contact with his or her original network of friends.
In fact, Kim observed a dramatic change in family locations, suggesting that children of divorce were more likely to change schools.
Parents' divorce-related depression might also play a role, as could economic strains when family income suddenly drops.
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