Damage to children from parental conflict in a divorce

A thirty-year longitudinal study of children of divorce indicates that if there is parental conflict during and after a divorce, there are the following consequences:

Consequences for minor children

  • Lower academic achievement.
  • More behavior problems.
  • Poorer psychological adjustment.
  • More negative self-concepts.
  • More social difficulties.
  • More problematic relationships with mothers and fathers.

Consequences for adult children

  • Lower psychological well-being.
  • More behavioral problems.
  • Less education.
  • Lower job status and lower standard of living.
  • More likely to never marry or lower marital satisfaction.
  • More likely not to have children.
  • Heightened risk for divorce.