Divorce and children: Things parents must consider before getting separated

New Delhi: The word 'Divorce' can be the worst nightmare in a marriage. Sadly, the trend has been steadily rising throughout the world, clearly pointing out that it is now a reality that most marriages don't last forever in today's hectic modern lifestyle.

For couples who have children, the effects of divorce are even harsher as it can detrimentally impact the child's physical as well as mental well-being.

A number of studies have revealed how divorce can be malignant for children. Here are some important factors that parents need to ponder before filing for a divorce. Research comparing kids of divorced parents to children with married parents found that:

• Children of divorce suffer academically. They also tend to fall behind in their maths and social skills.
• Kids whose parents are divorced also high levels of behavioural problems.
• Children of divorced parents are more prone to feeling anxious, lonely, sad, or tended to have low-self-esteem, compared with their peers whose parents remained married.
• Teens from divorced homes are more likely to end up using drugs and drinking alcohol. They are also at an increased risk of engaging in sexual intercourse than their peers from intact families.
• Children of divorced parents experience illness more frequently and recover from sickness more slowly.

A latest research on how divorce affects the children's health shows that children of separated parents are approximately twice as likely to develop various illnesses such as - gastrointestinal, genitourinary, dermatological or neurological issues than children living in nuclear families.

According to the researchers, it is not the break-up in itself that has negative effects on the children's health, but improper handling of the situation by the parents.

However, the study, published in the European Journal of Education and Psychology, did not find link between exposure to divorce and development of respiratory, cardiovascular or musculo-skeletal issues, allergies, or hearing and sight problems.