Kids not so resilient after divorce

Contrary to popular belief, kids of divorce are not so resilient and many never bounce back once the break up has taken place. Hyn Kik Kim, PhD candidate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has published his findings in the latest issue of American Sociological Review. Kim is using data from an Early Childhood Longitudinal Study which follows more than 3500 U elementary school students starting kindergarten in 1998. The study also follows the parents so is able to capture data on divorce: before, during and after.

“Children of divorce experience setbacks in math test scores and show problems with interpersonal skills and internalizing behavior during the divorce period,” stated Kim. “They are more prone to feelings of anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem and sadness.”

What surprised Kim was that there was no drop off in various testing measurements in the time period prior to the divorce. “I expected that there would be conflict between the parents leading up to their divorce, and that that would be troublesome for their child,” Kim admits. “But I failed to find any significant effect in the pre-divorce period.”

And the kids don’t bounce back all the way once the divorce is over. “After the divorce, students return to the same growth rate as their counterparts, but they remain behind their peers from intact families.”

The study may be useful to parents and teachers. Once they know a divorce is in process, they can give the supplemental attention to studies and internal emotional development that will help these children.

Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical News Today