Divorce can change many aspects of a child’s life. Their schedules will change if they have to move from two parent’s houses in certain child custody situations. There might also be a transition necessary for the blending of families as parents move on. The good news is that by committing to co-parenting to reassure your children that while things have changed, they still have the love and support they need.
Baylor University recently identified another way that children are affected by divorce in a study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. They surveyed nearly 3,500 children of divorce ranging in age between 18 and 87 during 1991, 1998 and 2008. And found that depending on the parent’s religious beliefs, the children’s are adversely affected after a divorce.
The lead author of the study, Jeremy Uecker told U.S. News and World Report that “when both parents are religious, the effect of divorce has a negative effect on religiosity They (the children) might think their parents’ marriage was ordained by God or something and that breakup can have more of an effect on their religiousness in adulthood.” This is not the case for just one religion but rather all religions.
The study is not conclusive at this point because the research team would like to look at factors such as whether the parents had differing religious beliefs. That factor might also lend itself to lowered religious beliefs later in life. Studies may say interesting things about divorce, but your main concern in your personal divorce must be the best situation to raise your kids. If you have decided to divorce your spouse or have questions, contact an experienced divorce attorney in DuPage County who can assist you with the process.
