| Thanks to David Garrod garrod@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu Here are some of
the observed effects of removing a father to the position of a visitor in a child's
life.
| In summary, 30% of the children in the present study experienced a marked decrease in
their academic performance following parental separation, and this was evident three years
later. Access to both parents seemed to be the most protective factor, in that it was
associated with better academic adjustment... Moreover, data revealed that noncustodial
parents (mostly fathers) were very influential in their children's development... These
data also support the interpretation that the more time a child spends with the
noncustodial parent the better the overall adjustment of the child. Factors Associated with Academic Achievement in Children
Following Parental Separation,
L. Bisnaire, PhD; P. Firestone, PhD; D. Rynard, MA Sc
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60(1), January, 1990 |
| While in most instances adolescents from recently disrupted household were more
negatively affected by their parents' divorce, some findings did identify long-term
effects of earlier disruption. Adolescent girls who had experienced parental divorce when
they were younger than six or between six and nine years old reported becoming involved
with alcohol or drugs in proportions higher than did girls from intact families.
Adolescent girls whose experience of divorce occurred before they were six more frequently
reported skipping school than did girls from intact families or girls whose parents
divorced when they were between the ages of six and nine. These findings underscore the
vulnerability of adolescents whose parents have divorced within the last five years. The
impact of the marital disruption was most pronounced among girls, who skipped school more
frequently, reported more depressive behavior, and described social support in more
negative terms than did boys from recently disrupted homes.
The Effects of Marital Disruption on Adolescents: Time
as a Dynamic
A. Frost, PhD; B. Pakiz, EdM,
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60(4), October, 1990 |
| Among teenage and adult populations of females, parental divorce has been associated
with lower self-esteem, precocious sexual activity, greater delinquent-like behavior, and
more difficulty establishing gratifying, lasting adult heterosexual relationships. It is
especially intriguing to note that, in these studies, the parental divorce typically
occurred years before any difficulties were observed.. At the time of the marital
separation, when (as is typical) father leaves [is evicted/forced from] the family
home and becomes progressively less involved with his children over the ensuing years, it
appears that young girls experience the emotional loss of father egocentrically as a
rejection of them. While more common among preschool and early elementary school girls, we
have observed this phenomenon clinically in later elementary school and young adolescent
children. Here the continued lack of involvement is experienced as an ongoing rejection by
him. Many girls attribute this rejection to their not being pretty enough, affectionate
enough, athletic enough, or smart enough to please father and engage him in regular,
frequent contacts.
Finally, girls whose parents divorce may grow up without the day-to-day experience of
interacting with a man who is attentive, caring and loving. The continuous sense of
being valued and loved as a female seems an especially key element in the development of
the conviction that one is indeed femininely lovable. Without this regular source of
nourishment, a girl's sense of being valued as a female does not seem to thrive.
Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Children: A
Developmental Vulnerability Model
Neil Kalter, Ph.D., University of Michigan,
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57(4), October, 1987
________________
Update 2008 05 11: It is strongly
recommended to take a look at "SHOULD
SCHOOLS TRY TO BOOST SELF-ESTEEM? Beware the dark side", by Roy F.
Baumeister |
Based on our clinical experience with a number of latency aged and adolescent girls
whose parents divorced during their oedipal years, we postulate that particular coping
patterns emerge in response to the absence of the father, which may complicate the
consolidation of positive feminine identification in many female children, and is
observable during the latency years. We illustrate both the existence of these phenomena
and implications for treatment:
intensified separation anxiety; denial and avoidance of feelings associated with loss of father; identification with the lost object; and object hunger for males.
In an earlier study by Kalter and Rembar at [Children's Psychiatric Hospital,
University of Michigan], a sample of 144 child and adolescent patients, whose parents had
divorced, presented [for evaluation and treatment] with three most commonly occurring
problems:
63% Subjective psychological problem (defined as anxiety, sadness, pronounced moodiness,
phobias, and depression) 56% Poor grades or grades substantially below ability and/or recent past performance 43% Aggression toward parents Important features of the subgroup of 32 latency aged girls were in the same order: 69% indicating subjective psychological distress 47% academic problems 41% aggression
toward pa[ren]ts.
Clinical Observations on Interferences of Early Father
Absence in the Achievement of Femininity,
by R. Lohr, C. g, A. Mendell and B. Riemer,
Clinical Social Work Journal, V. 17, #4, Winter, 1989 |
| ...when the non-custodial parent is perceived as "lost," the young adult is
more depressed. When a divorce occurs, the perception of the non-custodial father has been
shown to change in a negative direction, while the perception of the mother remains
relatively stable. Because divorce is a process, not an isolated event, the
effects of the divorce may be cumulative and early intervention would therefore be
beneficial.
The continued involvement of the non-custodial parent in the child's life appears
crucial in preventing an intense sense of loss in the child... The importance of the
relationship with the non-custodial parent may also have implications for the legal issues
of custodial arrangements and visitation. The results of this study indicate that
arrangements where both parents are equally involved with the child are optimal. When this
type of arrangement is not possible, the child's continued relationship with the
non-custodial parent remains essential.
Young Adult Children of Divorced Parents:
Depression and the Perception of Loss,
Rebecca L. Drill, Ph.D.,
Harvard University. Journal of Divorce, V. 10, #1/2, Fall/Winter 1986 |
| The impact of parental divorce and subsequent father absence in the wake of this event
has long been thought to affect children quite negatively. For instance, parental
divorce and father loss has been associated with difficulties in school adjustment (e.g.
Felner, Ginter, Boike, & Cowen), Social Adjustment (e.g. Fry & Grover) and
personal adjustment (e.g. Covell & Turnbull)..." The results of the present
study suggest that father loss through divorce is associated with diminished self-concepts
in children... at least for this sample of children from the midwestern United States.
Children's Self Concepts: Are They Affected by
Parental Divorce and Remarriage, Thomas S. Parish,
Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 1987, V 2, #4, 559-562 |
| It is ironic, and of some interest, that we have subjected joint custody to a level
and intensity of scrutiny that was never directed toward the traditional post-divorce
arrangement (sole legal and physical custody to the mother and two weekends each month of
visiting to the father.) Developmental and relationship theory should have alerted the
mental health field to the potential immediate and long range consequences for the child
of only seeing a parent four days each month. And yet until recently, there was no
particular challenge to this traditional post-divorce parenting arrangement, despite
growing evidence that such post-divorce relationships were not sufficiently nurturing or
stabilizing for many children and parents." There is some evidence that in our
well-meaning efforts to save children in the immediate post-separation period from
anxiety, confusion, and the normative divorce-engendered conflict, we have set the stage
in the longer run for the more ominous symptoms of anger, depression, and a deep sense of
loss by depriving the child of the opportunity to maintain a full relationship with each
parent.
Examining Resistance to Joint Custody, Monograph
by Joan Kelly, Ph.D. (associate of Judith Wallerstein, Ph.D) From the 1991 Book Joint
Custody and Shared Parenting, second edition, Guilford Press, 1991. |
|
Father Absence and the Welfare of Children, By Sara McLanahan
Quoted from the conclusion of the discussion paper:
Growing up with a single parent harms children for three
primary reasons: A disrupted family usually has fewer financial
resources to devote to children's upbringing and education, less
time and energy to nurture and supervise children, and reduced
access to community resources that can supplement and support
parents' efforts. Fortunately, none of these factors are beyond
the control of parents and society. Thus, to the extent that
parents and government can address these risk factors, the
effect of father absence on children's wellbeing could be
significantly softened....
Note by Fathers for Life: Although the discussion paper presents
a fairly good analysis of the consequences of father absence, the
primary solution seen by Sara McLanahan for addressing the
consequences of father absence is to bring about more and stronger
child support enforcement. That is in addition to ensuring
more secure financial circumstances (out of tax revenues) for
single-mother families.
Not once does the discussion paper mention, let alone critique, the
deplorable drive to systematically destroy the traditional nuclear
family and to eliminate the presence of fathers in children's lives.
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