studies of children whose family went through a divorce have found that divorce can course hero

by Norwood Blick 4 min read

Research has suggested divorce can affect children socially, as well. Children whose family is going through a divorce may have a harder time relating to others and tend to have fewer social contacts. Sometimes children feel insecure and wonder if their family is the only family that has gotten divorced.

Full Answer

How does divorce affect children’s academic performance?

Children from divorced families don’t always perform as well academically. However, a study published in 2019 suggested kids from divorced families tended to have trouble with school if the divorce was unexpected, whereas children from families where divorce was likely didn't have the same outcome. 8 

Does divorce improve quality of life for adults and children?

Although the findings from the study are, in some respects, dismaying, what emerges clearly is that a successfully reestablished family or a successful remarriage can improve the quality of life for both adults and children. The divorce may resolve the family conflict and allow the children to preserve a relationship with both parents.

Are children of divorced parents less likely to graduate high school?

In families in the “unlikely to divorce” group, children of divorced parents were 6 percent less likely than children of non-divorced parents to graduate from high school and 15 percent less likely to complete college.

Is divorce the most disruptive event for disadvantaged families?

“Our findings suggest that divorce is just one of many hardships that disadvantaged families face, which makes the event less disruptive,” said Brand, who also is the director of the UCLA California Center for Population Research and co-director of the UCLA Center for Social Statistics. She also has an appointment in the UCLA statistics department.

Key Facts and Statistics About Divorce and Children

Statistics About Physical Effects

  • Living through a divorce is stressful, which can take a physical toll on children. As a result, it's not uncommon for kids of divorced parents to experience more health-related issues than children living in intact families. In fact, research shows that adolescents whose parents have divorced are more likely to experience injury, accidents, and illness than children whose parents have remaine…
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Statistics About Emotional Impact

  • Divorce is an emotional experience bringing about a range of conflicting emotions and feelings. And when these emotions are not dealt with in a healthy and supportive way, they can create issues in children's lives. For instance, a 2017 study found that children living in intact, nuclear families are about half as likely as children in step, blended, or one-parent families to have a me…
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Statistics About Academic Performance

  • Research has consistently demonstrated that children in situations where their parents have been divorced may earn lower grades than their peers. Over the years, statistics on the educational effects of divorce support these findings.14 However, a 2019 study found that these effects are more likely to be experienced in families where the divorce wa...
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Other Divorce Considerations

  • Although statistics vary depending on the source, there is no denying that children in the U.S. experience a rate of divorce that is higher than what children in other countries experience. In fact, it is not uncommon for American children to witness the breakup of their parents' marriage.15 Yet there are times when divorce is the best option given the situation. In fact, divorce is often the b…
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A Word from Verywell

  • Clearly, divorce increases the likelihood that your children will face challenges. As a result, you need to work hard to provide solid, consistent support for your children not only during the process but in the years after. Parents who find a balance between dealing with the divorce and their emotions while supporting their children throughout the process will see the most success…
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