The Effects of Divorce on Children - Family Research Council
The Effects of Divorce on Children - Family Research Council
The Effects of Divorce on Children - Family Research Council
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Men who experienced their parents’ divorce as children (between ages seven and<br />
16) are more likely to smoke as adults. 268 Males who have experienced parental<br />
divorce are also more likely to use alcohol and drugs. 269 Women who experienced<br />
parental divorce between ages seven and 16 (but not those whose parents<br />
divorced later) are more likely to smoke and to drink heavily as adults than<br />
women whose parents remained married. 270<br />
Percent Who Ever Used Hard Drugs<br />
20.00%<br />
18.00%<br />
16.00%<br />
14.00%<br />
12.00%<br />
10.00%<br />
8.00%<br />
6.00%<br />
4.00%<br />
2.00%<br />
0.00%<br />
10.88%<br />
Ever Used Hard Drugs by <strong>Family</strong> Structure<br />
Source: Adolescent Health Survey, Wave I. Adolescents grade 7-12.<br />
18.32%<br />
8.77%<br />
INTACT STEP COHABIT (BOTH<br />
NATURAL)<br />
18.87%<br />
COHABIT (ONE<br />
NATURAL)<br />
15.18%<br />
8.23%<br />
DIVORCED NEVER MARRIED<br />
VI. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Effects</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Child Health: Stunted Physical<br />
and Psychological Growth<br />
A. Physical Health and L<strong>on</strong>gevity<br />
Parental divorce affects their children’s physical health and l<strong>on</strong>gevity. Those who<br />
experience parental divorce or separati<strong>on</strong> are more likely to have health<br />
problems 271 (<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten in spite <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maternal remarriage 272 ) such as a significant increase<br />
Kyrre Breivik and Dan Olweus, “Adolescent's Adjustment in Four Post-<str<strong>on</strong>g>Divorce</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Family</strong><br />
Structures: Single Mother, Stepfather, Joint Physical Custody and Single Father Families,”<br />
Journal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Divorce</str<strong>on</strong>g> and Remarriage 44, no. 3 (2006): 115.<br />
268<br />
Frank F. Furstenberg and Kathleen E. Kiernan, “Delayed Parental <str<strong>on</strong>g>Divorce</str<strong>on</strong>g>: How Much Do<br />
<strong>Children</strong> Benefit?” Journal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Marriage and <strong>Family</strong> 63 (2001): 453.<br />
269<br />
William J. Doherty and Richard H. Needle, “Psychological Adjustment and Substance Use<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g Adolescents Before and After a Parental <str<strong>on</strong>g>Divorce</str<strong>on</strong>g>,” Child Development 62 (1991): 332.<br />
270<br />
Frank F. Furstenberg and Kathleen E. Kiernan, “Delayed Parental <str<strong>on</strong>g>Divorce</str<strong>on</strong>g>: How Much Do<br />
<strong>Children</strong> Benefit?” Journal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Marriage and <strong>Family</strong> 63 (2001): 452.<br />
271<br />
Paul R. Amato and Bruce Keith, “Parental <str<strong>on</strong>g>Divorce</str<strong>on</strong>g> and Adult Well-being: A Meta-Analysis,”<br />
Journal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Marriage and <strong>Family</strong> 53 (1991): 49, 54.<br />
272<br />
Jane Mauld<strong>on</strong>, “<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Marital Disrupti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Children</strong>’s Health,” Demography 27<br />
(1990): 444.<br />
40