children s health issues
Divorce and Children
Introduction
Separation and divorce of parents, and the events leading up to them, interrupt the stability and predictability that children need. Other than the death of an immediate family member, divorce is the most stressful event that can affect a family. Children may feel a great loss, as well as anxiety, anger, and sadness, because the world as they know has changed significantly. Children may fear being abandoned or losing their parents' love. Also, for many reasons, parenting skills often worsen around the time of the divorce. Parents are usually preoccupied and may be angry and hostile toward each other. Children may feel guilty because they think they somehow caused the divorce. If parents ignore children or visit sporadically and unpredictably, children feel rejected. Divorce or separation of parents is a difficult event for children. However, many families are not structured as two parents living with their children. Families take many different forms, such as a child and a single parent, a blended family with parents and children from previous relationships, or children who are being raised by or with grandparents or other family members or other adult caregivers. 