A divorce in Texas takes a great emotional toll on everyone involved, including your children. Parents need to have conversations with their children and take steps to make sure they can properly grieve and cope with any challenging experiences involved.
If you can understand some of the ways that divorces are known to affect children, you can be better prepared to provide support to your child and help him or her to live a better life as he or she grows up. Mental health problems can have a lasting impact even into adulthood, so it is better to address any concerns early on.
Known behavioral issues
According to VeryWell Family, children whose parents have divorced are statistically more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors in adolescence, including becoming sexually active before the age of 16 and using drugs, tobacco and alcohol.
The academic performance of children whose parents have divorced also tends to suffer in comparison to their peers whose families stayed together. The likelihood of this increases if a divorce occurs unexpectedly.
Children of divorced parents tend to experience more conflict with their peers. Other noted behavioral issues include impulsive behavior, delinquency and conduct disorders.
Mental health problems
Studies show that children from divorced parents experience higher rates of anxiety and depression. These illnesses can last months or may even go on for years.
When mental health symptoms are present only for the months proceeding directly after a divorce, it is sometimes known as an adjustment disorder. Do keep in mind, however, that even if your child’s behavior suddenly improves after a while, he or she may have just learned to repress psychological issues. That is why it is important to get your child the help he or she needs as early as possible.