The effects of divorce: A research review with a developmental perspective

This paper reviews the available research on divorce with an emphasis on how children at different ages are differentially affected by the divorce process. Preschoolers seem to feel responsible and guilty but recover in two to three months. Early latency age children are exceptionally sad and vulnerable, while late latency age children are better able to express their anger. All latency age children are more likely to engage in aggressive and antisocial behavior as a result of the divorce. Adolescents are often prematurely made independent of the primary family and often are forced into alliances with one of the parents. Therapeutic implications of these findings are included in the discussion.