children s health issues
Divorce and Children
Effects on children
During the divorce, schoolwork may seem unimportant to children and adolescents, and school performance often worsens. Children may have fantasies that parents will reconcile. Effects on children vary according to age and development level: Children aged 2 to 5 years: May have Sleep Problems in Children , Children aged 5 to 12 years: Can experience sadness, grief, intense anger, and irrational fears (phobias). Adolescents: Often feel insecure, lonely, and sad. Some engage in risk-taking behaviors, such as illicit drug and alcohol use, sex, theft, and violence. Others may develop eating disorders, become defiant, skip school, or join peers who are engaging in risk-taking behaviors (see Introduction to Problems in Adolescents ). 