Children, Depression And Their Parents Divorce

Children, Depression And Their Parents Divorce

It’s not surprising when children of divorced parents end up having behavioral problems. But a study that was published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry says there may be one underlying reason for both the parents’ divorce and the children’s behavior issues: heredity.

Without getting into the methodology of the study, the basic finding was that parents who are genetically prone to being unhappy in their marriages are more likely to have children who experience depression and anxiety. So could it be that it's not the divorce that’s so tough on the kids, rather it's the genes?

Of course, there’s a bit of a “chicken and the egg” here. Did the kids’ depression surface before or after the divorce happened? In some cases, the kids’ issues started before the parents actually split up, but there was already tension in the marriage.

Research aside, the important message here is that parents need to pay really close attention to their kids when marital problems start. The kids will naturally pick up on the rising tension in the home.

Somehow, you have to find a way to manage your own emotions through divorce and help your kids’ manage theirs too. That’s a challenge with no easy solutions. But being aware of everyone’s feelings is half the battle.

Click for entire directory of resource articles on kids, family and divorce — preparing your children for divorce, the emotional affects of divorce on children and how best to provide for them post-divorce.