There is always a tragic side to the stories of children from single-parent families. Families have the utmost influence on children’s development. However, with the accelerating divorce rate, single-parent families are no longer the deviant in the modern world. Coming from a single-parent family casts an immense shadow upon many children. Many children are haunted by their single-parent family background. Children of divorced or repartnered parents display more problems than their counterparts in nuclear families on many fronts such as academic problems, disrupted peer relations, emotional distress, and antisocial behavior. Teenages affected by single-parent family many develop antisocial behavior (Demo & Acock, 1988).

 

Negative relationship model is a product of divorce, something that may spill into children's future relationships. Amato (1996) stated that parental conflicts may lead to the development of poor relationship skills. Consequently, they are more likely to suffer from poor marital outcomes. Parental divorce may alter how children view relationships (Amato & DeBoer, 2001; Whitton, Rhoades, Stanley & Markman, 2008). Females with divorced parents tend to have lower levels of relationship confidence, commitment, and higher level of parental conflict. Although the pursuit of marriage is not the sole route to happiness, the fear towards marriage may pave a path of sorrows for some.

 

Even when parents remarry, the well-being of children may still be lower than those who remain in single-parents families (Coleman, Ganong & Fine, 2000). Parental repartnering is stressful for both children and adults (Henry & Lovelace, 1995). Parental remarriage and cohabitation involve massive changes for children and adults, such as moving, adapting to new household members, new household routines and activities. These changes create stressors for children, and may result in poorer performances in school and more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems (Menaghan, Kowaleski-Jones, & Mott, 1997). Zill et al. stated that internal problems like depression increases the risk of having emotional problem (Dawson, 1991). External problem such as substance abuse, aloholic tedency, enganging in sexual intercourse, unmarried birth and being arrested (Coleman, Ganong & Fine, 2000). Chindren need to get used to new routine of living. Biological parents need to cater for the new family. The very existance of step parents raise the stress level of childen. Thinking from the perspective of children, providing them with a brand new “family” is not always a good idea.

 

Does this imply that those who have experienced parental divorce can not grow up happily and healthily? The answer is no. Most youngsters possess great resilience and the ability to deal with or even gain from their new life situation(Luthar, 2003). Other factors also add to children’s resilience and effective coping, such as good parenting, extra-familial protective factors such as peer relationships, institutions, and support from nonparental adults including neighbours and mentors.

 

 

 

References

Amato, P. R. (1996). Explaining the intergenerational transmission of divorce. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50(3),

          628-640.

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Amato, P. R., & DeBoer, D. D. (2001). The transmission of marital instability across generations: Relationship skills or

          commitment to marriage? Journal of Marriage and Family, 63(4), 1038-1051.

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Coleman, M., Ganong, L., & Fine, M. (2000). Reinvestigating remarriage: Another decade of progress. Journal of Marriage

          and Family, 62(4), 1288-1307.

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Dawson, D. A. (1991). Family structure and children's health and well-being: Data from the 1988 National Health Interview

          Survey on Child Health. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53, 573-584.

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Demo, D. H., & Acock, A. C. (1988). The impact of divorce on children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 619-648.

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Henry, C. S., & Lovelace, S. G. (1995). Family resources and adolescent family life satisfaction in remarried family

          households. Journal of Family Issues, 16(6), 765-786.

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Hetherington, E. M., & Elmore, A. M. (2003). Risk and resilience in children coping with their parents’ divorce and

          remarriage. Resilience and vulnerability: Adaptation in the context of childhood adversities, 182-212.

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Menaghan, E. G., Kowaleski-Jones, L., & Mott, F. L. (1997). The intergenerational costs of parental social stressors:

          Academic and social difficulties in early adolescence for children of young mothers. Journal of Health and Social                     Behavior, 38(1), 72-86.

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Rodgers, K. B., & Rose, H. A. (2002). Risk and resiliency factors among adolescents who experience marital transitions.

          Journal of Marriage and Family, 64(4), 1024-1037.

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Whitton, S. W., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2008). Effects of parental divorce on marital commitment

          and confidence. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(5), 789.

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Zill, N., Morrison, D. R., & Coiro, M. J. (1993). Long-term effects of parental divorce on parent-child relationships,

          adjustment, and achievement in young adulthood. Journal of family psychology, 7(1), 91.