Effects Of A Divorce Family Essay Research

Effects Of A Divorce Family Essay, Research Paper

Statistics of the Stepfamily Foundation suggest that about one out of every two marriages ends in divorce and more American children will most likely be living in a stepfamily situation in the year 2000. Most parents agree that a divorce of a family has a negative effect on children and stepfamilies are harder on a child’s development than living in a nuclear family. Dr. Judith Wallerstein has studied 25 years of the effects of a divorce on 26 children. She concluded that in the her group study of children were generally less disciplined, had more health problems, displaced a more antisocial behavior, exhibited lower academic performance and suffered from physiological or sexual problems. Furthermore, the Center of Law and Social Policy (CLASP) also suggest that stepfamily children will be more likely indulge in deviant behavior and displayed the same traits as Dr. Wallerstein suggested in her study of divorced parent children.

Two brothers of a five-child stepfamily (three biological brothers and a stepbrother and stepsister) were interviewed to study how their lives were effected by living in a divorced family and then, introduced into a stepfamily situation with two stepsiblings and a stepmother. This interview was conducted on two brothers, one who is thirty-two (oldest) and the other who is thirty years old (middle brother) today. The oldest brother was eight and the middle brother was six years old at the time that their parents got a divorce with the father gaining custody over them. There was also a younger brother who was four years of age at the time of the parent’s separation. Their biological mother left the house and regularly saw her kids from their journey from childhood to maturity. She remarried approximately four times in her life along with other relationships as her kids matured in life. The mother was also from a divorced/stepfamily home with her mother and father getting divorced when their mom was around six years of age. Her parents also remarried and formed stepfamilies situations as she gained stepsiblings. The following interview of the two brothers’ feelings and outcomes of their lives in the family situations was compared to the studies by Dr. Wallerstein and CLASP. Their responses were analyzed to draw conclusions about similarities and differences between each other and the research data.

The Divorce Interview

Q: Did you ever feel guilty or think you caused the divorce of your mother and father. If so why.

Oldest Brother: No, not really.

Middle Brother: No

Q: In the weeks or months leading up to the divorce, did your mother or father explain to why they were deciding to get a divorce.

Oldest Brother: Yes. Both mom and dad explained that they were getting divorced. The most important thing that they wanted me to know was that none of what was happening was because of us (brothers). Mom seemed to be keeping things to herself, and after mom left, dad just didn’t want to talk about it at all.

Middle Brother: I don’t remember.

Q: Did you ever see or hear your parents them argue. How often and were the arguments mentally or physically abusive or violent.

Oldest Brother: No, I never ever heard dad and mom argue.

Middle Brother: I don’t remember, I was about 6 or 7 years old.

Q: Did you have the feeling that you would never see your mother or father again, because they were getting a divorce.

Oldest Brother: No, I was never scared that I wouldn’t see mom again. There were always assurances that “she’ll see me soon”.

Middle Brother: No, Mom always assured me that she would come to see us.

Q: After the divorce, what was it like around the house. Did it feel as if something was missing.

Oldest Brother: For a while, it was “strange” not having mom at home when I got home from school, but after a month or so I got used to it.

Middle Brother: I can’t remember exactly, but I always wished she could have been around more. I missed her.

Q: After your parents had the divorce, did you feel any devastating sadness, and where there any particular issues you struggled with because of the separated parent was not around everyday.

Oldest Brother: I was sad, but I would not describe it as “devastating”. One of the issues I think was hard for me to deal with was having the responsibility of looking out for my two younger brothers, who did nothing but fight with each other, and me.

Middle Brother: I don’t remember anything specific.

Q: Did discipline change during the time between the divorce and the remarriage.

Oldest Brother: Yes. I don’t recall ever getting a real whipping after mom left. I guess dad felt bad about having to put so much responsibility on me and was more lenient with me.

Middle Brother: I don’t remember any difference from before. I do remember dad being sort of strict, but I think he needed to be raising three boys on his own.

Q: Can you name some positive and negative aspects in you life that you think the divorce is a direct result.

Positive Aspect:

Oldest Brother: A positive aspect would be that now, as an adult living within a divorced family, I can identify with my step-children, and know how they must feel having a “stepfather” married to their mom in

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать