Divorce and Separation

Divorce harms child development but the damage is mitigated by sustaining parental relationships

A key to understanding how to support children during divorce is understanding the nature of parent-infant attachment – how important it is and how it can be nurtured.

Articles 9 of 27

Children need safe havens during separation, and “good enough” care that maintains parental attachments, even in situations of high conflict. Child development researchers consistently recommend more attention to protecting parent-child relationships. They have argued for more support for parenting quality during separation and in favor of overnight stays with both parents, even for very young children. They have advocated a legal presumption of shared care after divorce because joint custody is associated with better child development outcomes, even where there is conflict. They have argued that teaching family law professionals about child development could help more than changing the laws.

Children experiencing the divorce or separation of their parents also need direct support that focuses on coping mechanisms, particularly in situations of high conflict. Children with lower self-esteem, particularly girls, cope less well with parental separation and need support.

Children whose parents have separated and divorced are less likely to go to college. Rather surprisingly, this is getting worse even as divorce and separation become more commonplace: Children born in the 1970s whose parents divorced are four times more likely not to attend college than children born in the 1940s whose parents divorced.

Parental alienation has been classified by researchers as child abuse, requiring a family systems approach that involves both perpetrator and victims.

Divorce and Separation

Divorce harms child development but the damage is mitigated by sustaining parental relationships

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Articles 9 of 27