Divorce: Employment and Children Number Factors Research Paper

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Updated: Jan 29th, 2024

Abstract

Divorce is a serious issue that has been on the rise in the past few years. The rising number of divorce among societies is a factor that calls for timely interventions from states and governments. To curb the challenges introduced by a divorce, various states in the United States have laws that minimize the level of suffering experienced by the involved parties. Notably, the paper examines the causes of divorce and marital tensions. From the examination, it emerges that marital tensions and dissatisfactions are higher among women as compared to men. Moreover, irritation and disagreements top the list of issues that trigger divorce among families. In the quest to reduce the effects of divorce and its rising cases, scholars such as Birditt, Wan, Orbuch, and Antonucci (2017) advanced useful models.

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Models like enduring dynamics, disillusionment, emergent distress, as well as accommodation model play a vital role in addressing issues relating to breakups in families. The paper also looks into the effect that employment and the number of children have on the likelihood of a divorce. Interventions like collaborative divorce are also among the issues analyzed by the paper. The paper examines the benefits of utilizing out-of-court proceedings especially in improving the wellbeing of children after the separation. Additionally, the paper analyses the challenges faced by parents who have a child with special needs during times of a breakup and how post-divorce programs foster the quality of life enjoyed by the separated families.

Introduction

Ideological differences, conflicts, and emotional flare-ups characterize several families and lead to divorce among a number of them in modern times. Notably, due to the increasing rates of divorce in the present times, it is important to look at the challenges that the issue has on the involved parties, which comprise the parents and the children. While the parents may try to handle their emotions and move on swiftly, children usually experience psychological trauma whenever there is a divorce. The suffering can affect the performance of children in learning institutions as well as in their overall livelihoods. As such, states and governments have introduced various interventions in the quest to minimize the damages occasioned by a divorce. Although divorce caused by marital tension is a serious trial for both adults and children, parents should try to collaborate to ease the transition period for their children.

Marital Tension

Marital Tension between Spouses, Level of Satisfaction, and Causes of a Divorce

Conflicts, ideological differences, and changing family roles are among the leading causes of divorce in several families. Unlike in the past when males used to make decisions concerning several issues affecting their families, modern societies have females who are equally involved in the decision-making process. As such, whenever there is an issue that requires a decision, heated arguments may arise owing to the absence of a consensus between the spouses. Birditt et al. (2017) argue that a look at the tensions in marriages reveals that they differ between males and females. In a marriage, tension appears to be high among females than it is among the males.

Fundamentally, in a number of families, females usually report higher levels of dissatisfaction as compared to males. It is important to note that when two individuals decide to get married, they come together with diverse expectations, which when they fail to attain, they become dissatisfied. According to a study conducted by Stannard (2016), it is clear that females become disillusioned when they fail to acquire the expectations that they had prior to getting married. While males handle their dissatisfaction in different ways such as trying to focus on the positive side of a relationship, women will always look for a solution that addresses the issue in the long-term.

Some of the negatives aspects that cause divorce in marriages include irritation, disappointment, conflict, and disagreements. These causes often appear once two individuals settle down to begin a family. In effect, the majority of the aforementioned issues usually appear after about five years of marriage when the families have children or have interacted significantly and the initial love has faded away. Stannard (2016) asserts that disagreement and disappointment can occur when a family is blessed with a child who requires special attention. In the assertion, the family may disagree on various issues concerning the child and end up with a desire to separate and lead different lives.

Models of Marital Tension, Employment, and the Number of Children

Principally, models of tension can be a solution to addressing issues related to a divorce or can catalyze the process of separation. Birditt et al. (2017) provide models like enduring dynamics, disillusionment, and emergent distress, which are useful in solving disagreements or examining the causes of divorce in marriages. In the enduring dynamics model, the spouses understand their problems prior to their union but hope that they will change once they live together, whereas in the disillusionment model the couple becomes hopeless when they realize that the expected changes are not forthcoming. On the other hand, the emergent distress model revolves around those issues that take effect in a relationship once the individuals stay together as a couple. In the scenarios presented by the models, the union between the families can be headed towards divorce but with the right interventions, the level of psychological trauma among the involved parties becomes minimal.

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One of the most important models that help families resolve their differences and live without the fear of a divorce is the accommodation model. The model champions for an understanding and positive feelings among the spouses in a relationship and helps the involved families appreciate their weaknesses and live together. Ferraro, Malespin, Oehme, Bruker, and Opel (2016) elucidate that the determinants of divorce include employment status and the number of children in the family. If one member of the family has stable employment, the other party may be reluctant to initiate divorce because of the inability to fend for the needs of the family. Moreover, in scenarios where the family has more than three children, there is a decreased likelihood of a divorce owing to the high scale of trauma on children after the separation.

Collaborative Divorce

Effects of Adversarial Divorce on Children and the Importance of Out-of-Court interventions like Collaborative Divorce

Anxiety and depression usually affect children whenever a family goes through an adversarial divorce. When a family fails to reach a consensus on various issues surrounding the children and property, the process of separation becomes long, complex, and costly. Although the children may not bear the financial cost incurred by the parents, they suffer emotionally when they witness the hectic process and the disagreements triggered by the divorce. In the words of Birditt et al. (2017), divorce proceedings should always be swift and less complex for the parties involved. Whenever there is a divorce proceeding, the expectation of society and an extended family is that the parties involved will sort out their differences peacefully so that children would not experience prolonged periods of suffering. Concisely, the involved individuals should try to reach a consensus and adopt a non-adversarial format, which is less traumatic for their children.

When the parties involved in a divorce decide to engage the courts, the effect of the verdict may increase the suffering of another party. Remarkably, courts usually render their judgment based on the evidence that they have and do not look at the repercussions of the verdict on children and the affected family member. On some occasions, the courts can limit the level of interaction accorded to a parent that the children love and increase the custodial rights of the one who has little interest in them. Moreover, court proceedings may be expensive and can drain the resources of the affected family leaving them without money at the end of the process (Ferraro et al., 2016). Therefore, out-of-court interventions strive to reduce the level of suffering among children and spouses during the divorce process and after the separation.

In order to minimize the challenges experienced by families during and after the separation, interventions such as collaborative divorce emerged. In the assertion of Alba‐Fisch (2016), collaborative divorce aims to reduce the amount of time spent by families in courts and ensure that the feelings and rights of all the parties involved receive fair redress. Unlike the courts, collaborative divorce is an intervention that has codes and coaching methods useful in helping families amicably agree on issues. Single or two coach methods comprise the coaching techniques adopted by the intervention whose objective is to ensure that the process of divorce is peaceful and systematic. Moreover, the intervention encourages families involved in the divorce process to exercise effective communication systems, which foster peace even after the breakup.

Post Divorce Adjustment

Co-Parenting Relationship, Collaboration between Parents, and Divorce Education Programs

Even after a divorce, it is important for children to experience the love that they had from their parents. As such, parents need to ensure that the process of divorce does not lead to irreparable damages but is peaceful so that afterward, the children continue interacting with both of them. It is important to state that if parents continue arguing and disagreeing before their children, their overall performance diminishes and translates into poor lifestyles at the adulthood stage. According to Ferraro et al (2016), parents should not expose their private issues and address them in front of their children because it leads to psychological stress that later interferes with their growth. Therefore, parents should strive to increase positive interactions and minimize negative and argumentative meetings even after a divorce. Notably, when children see their parents working together and sharing duties that concern their wellbeing, they begin looking at them in a positive manner.

With improved positive meetings, parents can learn various factors that help them cooperate in bringing up their children even if they are living separately. Both parents should organize their schedules so that they meet with their children and spent time with them. It is momentous to explain that balanced interactions with children by both parents are crucial in helping them overcome the suffering initiated by the breakup so that they eventually lead normal and successful lives (Stannard, 2016). Issues relating to education, holiday destinations, and other aspects undertaken by the parents before the divorce should be shared collaboratively after the separation. By collaborating, the parents influence the lives of their children positively. Moreover, by working together, parents can reduce the negative feelings that emanate from a divorce.

Divorce programs aimed at increasing the level of contact between parents and their children after separation are present in various states around the United States. States such as Florida dictate that at least one of the parents need to attend the classes prior to a divorce. To compound their dictation, the state has introduced ‘Successful Co-parenting after divorce‘ program with the objective of ensuring that parents acquire the necessary skills that enable them to live and interact successfully with their children after the divorce (Ferraro et al., 2016). The drive behind the development of these programs stems from the weakened relationship between the children and some of their parents soon after the divorce, a scenario that is detrimental to their overall cognitive development. Therefore, by introducing divorce programs, the states improve post-divorce relationships not only among parents and the children but also between the separated individuals.

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The divorce between Parents with a Child Who Has Special Needs

Divorce involving parents who have a child in need of special care is complex and requires advice from state attorneys. The complexity stems from the special needs that the parents should address before separating. Stannard (2016) claims that the triggers of divorce in families, which have a child who has a disability, maybe due to a lack of consensus on various issues. The issues can include therapy, hospitals where the child will receive treatment, and how to care for the child. Therefore, before annulling a marriage, some states may dictate that parents who retain the child must receive higher alimony and assets so that the process of care becomes effective.

It is worthwhile to note that when some parents retain children who have special needs, their productivity decreases because more time is spent looking after the children. The laws that various states have concerning children with special needs strive to retain the benefits enjoyed by the child even after the separation. These laws look into the wellbeing of the child so that the special requirements do not become a challenge in the future. Before ending a marriage, courts or out-of-court proceedings can evaluate the financial ability of the parents so that the quality of life accorded to the disabled child is high-end and matches the state requirements.

Conclusion

Divorce is a complex issue that affects several families in contemporary times. It is worrying that the rate of divorce among families is on the rise, a factor that has led to the development of interventions that address the challenges faced by children and the affected parties. While the parents may experience financial damages, children suffer from emotional stress, which can eventually affect their lives during adulthood. As such, interventions such as collaborative divorce and educational programs prior to separation are instrumental in minimizing the challenges during and after the breakup. These programs not only minimize the stress faced during the process of separation but also help the parents take care of their children positively so that the level of suffering among the involved parties reduces.

References

Alba‐Fisch, M. (2016). Collaborative divorce: An effort to reduce the damage of divorce. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(5), 444-457.

Birditt, K., Wan, W., Orbuch, T., & Antonucci, T. (2017). The development of marital tension: Implications for divorce among married couples. Developmental Psychology, 53(10), 1995-2006.

Ferraro, A., Malespin, T., Oehme, K., Bruker, M., & Opel, A. (2016). Advancing co parenting education: Toward a foundation for supporting positive post-divorce adjustment. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 33(5), 407-415.

Stannard, M. (2016). 5 ways to advocate for a child with special needs during a divorce. EP Magazine, 1(1), 29-31.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "Divorce: Employment and Children Number Factors." January 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/divorce-employment-and-children-number-factors/.

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