A new study on divorce, looking at the complete spectrum of research on the subject, confirms what most people already know – even if they are not willing to admit it: divorce causes “irreparable harm” to the whole family, but particularly to the children.
By William West, MercatorNet –
There have been plenty of individual studies exposing one or more effects of divorce, but rarely do researchers give an overview of the findings to date – and it makes disturbing reading.
Divorce puts some children on a “downward trajectory from which they might never fully recover”, says the study, The Effects of Divorce on Children, by Patrick F. Fagan and Aaron Churchill from US-based MARRI (the Marriage and Religion ResearchInstitute of the Family Rsearch Council). “It diminishes children’s future competence in all five of society’s major tasks or institutions: family, school, religion, marketplace and government.”
Any parent considering divorce, or even contemplating it as an option, should read the report from cover to cover. It is highly likely to change their minds. Even if a marriage partner feels that the problems with their spouse are insurmountable and continuing in marriage is not an option they can at least prepare for problems that may arise.