Consequences of Divorce
Sociology: AQA GCSE, topic 2.6.2
Consequences of Divorce on Family Members
A divorce can have an impact on the spouses, the family, the children even the extended family.
Who's getting divorced?
- Divorces most commonly take place among:
- Teenagers.
- Spouses who have been married for 5-7 years.
- Working-class couples.
- Childless couples.
- Empty-nest families (families where children have turned 18 and have left their parents’ home).
Positive effects of divorce
- Divorces can have positive and negative effects.
- A positive effect of divorce is that people can leave an unhappy marriage and get the chance to lead a happy life.
Effects on family members
- Psychological effects: family members may suffer from depression, anxiety and/or loneliness.
- Legal effects: who has custody of the children (if there are any)? Who gets what assets (money, property)?
Effects on family members cont.
- Economic effects: now that there is only one income, a family can be led to poverty.
- Parental effects: where will the children be raised? What contact will the children have with the other parent? How often?
Consequences for children
- Children might suffer from a divorce as they no longer see their parents together.
- Children might have to split their lives between two different households.
- Children might even lose contact with one of their parents and are more likely to be alienated from their grandparents.
Test yourself on Consequences of Divorce
Which term is used to describe a family where all the children have turned 18 and have left their parents' home?
What are the different types of effects a divorce can have?