Studies show that children go through faster recovery when parents decide to have a divorce sooner than prolong a marriage that has ceased to work out. But even if this is the case, it is the children who suffer the emotional brunt associated with a divorce, often leaving permanent emotional scars.
Statistics suggests that about half of married couples today are ending up in divorce resulting to what we call broken homes. Many preconceived notions about the effect of broken homes on children are true, while some unearthed truths are disheartening.
Children from broken homes are more likely to experience mild to clinical depression and other psychiatric problems which greatly affects their performance in school and their relationship with the outside world. There is a strong relationship between juvenile delinquency and broken homes due to the absence or lack of a male role model, so that children are less apprehensive to commit a crime. It is said that ?fatherlessness? is one of the main causes of the disintegration of a society; clearly emphasizing that parenthood should not be left to mothers or grandparents alone.
Divorce stirs up a stressful predicament on the children, which results in many emotional, intellectual, or psychological problems.
What you can do to help
Many parents who have the custody of their children often make up for the emotional lack that the absence of another parent brings by acting as both the mother and father. However, because of the bitterness a divorce causes there is a strong likelihood that custodial parents themselves are busy contemplating their own emotional turmoil, which is likewise unhealthy for the children of broken homes.
Children from broken homes usually puts the blame on themselves, and have themselves into thinking they caused the divorce of their parents. They need to understand that their parents? divorce is not their fault.
It?s beneficial that parents or caregivers are aware of the psychological and emotional impacts of broken homes so they will be armed on how to help children. That way, they?ll realize the importance of extending emotional support that the children needs during this time of life crisis. Broken homes produce children with low-esteem and depression which greatly affects their emotional growth so that parents and guardians should make sure they actively make sure children are cushioned from the trauma.
While it can be hard to save children from the traumatic experience of divorce parents, relatives, and friends should make sure children has a well of resources of emotional support. This can be in the form of listening what a child has to say about the divorce.
The prevalence of divorce in western countries is causing a flood of resources on how to help children in broken homes. You can do your part today in helping preserve the broken hearts of these children.
