Abstract
Divorce poses a significantly greater threat to society than it initially appears. It has a negative psychological impact on the household members and can also impact their social networks and economic potential. In this context, the current research paper explores the social, psychological, and economic aspects of divorce. It effectively reduces the number of social connections of individuals who have been divorced. Moreover, it can be the cause of poor mental health outcomes, both in parents and their children. Lastly, divorce has a more significant adverse economic impact on the female population.
Introduction
The high prevalence of divorces in numerous Western countries poses a significant threat to public health. According to Hald et al. (2022), divorce rates can range from 40 to 50%. The potential consequences include significant societal issues, negative impacts on individuals’ mental well-being, and substantial economic strain on the country. Adults experiencing a divorce and their children must be provided with the necessary assistance and support, considering the comprehensive exploration of divorce consequences.
Social Aspects
A couple’s social circle will probably change after they separate. From being a pair, they become a half-couple, having to attend to their personal concerns rather than common ones. There is a high probability that they spent their marriage making friends with other married couples (Hald et al., 2022).
While it is possible that the couple engaged in activities with others, they remained committed to each other as a couple. Understandably, this is no longer the case after the divorce. Socializing with just one person no longer feels appropriate as it puts pressure on another couple to take sides (Hald et al., 2022). Thus, the number of friends within the divorced couple’s social circle decreases. In this challenging situation, there is a possibility that they may lose connection with their married acquaintances and seek to build stronger bonds with single companions with whom they can connect effortlessly.
Many individuals may experience intense feelings of sadness and anxiety immediately following a divorce. It is understandable due to the multitude of complications and emotional strain that divorce can lead to. It is pretty standard for individuals who go through a divorce to experience feelings of sadness and concern, which is a normal response to the dissolution of a marriage (Hald et al., 2022).
However, it is particularly concerning to discover that a considerable number of people who had divorced displayed a significant vulnerability to developing clinical depression or anxiety (Hald et al., 2022). The difficulties faced during divorce can become more severe as a result of intense emotional reactions. This encompasses aspects such as determining living arrangements and co-parenting responsibilities. These emotional responses can also damage people’s interpersonal connections, lead to feelings of discontent, and diminish their overall well-being.
Psychological Aspects
Divorce can have consequences for every member of a family, as the family functions as a complex system. Adults encounter various stress-inducing scenarios, such as alterations in their responsibilities and family dynamics, feelings of profound sadness or isolation, excessive alcohol consumption, and exposure to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse (Miralles et al., 2023). However, the impact of divorce on children and their development is more profound as they witness and go through it firsthand.
According to the existing studies, individuals who experienced parental divorce during childhood have a higher likelihood of displaying mental issues during adulthood (Miralles et al., 2023). Additionally, individuals in this particular group are more likely to exhibit signs of significant depression and experience episodes of sadness (Miralles et al., 2023). Sometimes, teenagers may feel sad, lack confidence, and worry. They may also behave in ways that are harmful to themselves, rejecting parental authority. As children mature, the absence of a strong bond with their parents raises the probability of developing anxiety.
Divorce can negatively affect the connections that adults have with their parents, partners, and children. Research indicates that children who experience parental separation or parental manipulation may face difficulties in developing trusting connections with others (Miralles et al., 2023). One possible reason for this occurrence is that adults may have mental health issues, struggle to trust their partner, or experience difficulties forming close connections with them. In simple terms, when children have to go through parental divorce, it can have lasting adverse effects (Miralles et al., 2023). These effects include problems with mental health, difficulty forming healthy relationships, and a higher likelihood of repeating the same harmful behavior with their own kids.
Economic Aspects
Apart from experiencing significant psychological pressure, adults are also exposed to various economic consequences. For instance, Kreyenfeld and Trappe (2020) analyzed and contrasted longitudinal data regarding two separate categories of people who experienced divorces during the 1960s and the 1980s. Overall, financial losses were observed among women, whereas men displayed a larger monetary advantage (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020).
In the 1960s, white women who divorced experienced a significant loss of approximately 46% of their finances, while those who divorced in the 1980s faced a slightly lower decrease of around 43% (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020). Meanwhile, the financial losses for black women who divorced in the 1960s amounted to roughly 51%, while for those who divorced in the 1980s, it was around 45% (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020). Such a decrease can pose a significant challenge for former female family members.
The situation proved to be different when it came to the male population. Specifically, the percentage of income lost by white men shifted from a 7% decrease among the older generation to a 7% gain among the younger one (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020). The monetary losses for Black men increased significantly, rising from 13% to 29% (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020). Around the same time frame, a separate study found that women’s income declined by 39%, whereas men’s income decreased by 7% (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020). These findings are incomparable to the losses experienced by their female counterparts.
The overall income-loss situation slightly improved in terms of equalization. According to a 2000 study, men experienced a 15% decrease in income after divorce during the late 1990s, whereas women faced a larger decline of 26% (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020). The latest findings from 2018 suggest that women’s income has undergone a similar change. In particular, the studies showed that women in the US have experienced a decrease of 25%–30% (Kreyenfeld & Trappe, 2020). The outcomes bear a significant resemblance to those discovered during the 1990s and 2000s.
The most significant discrepancy in financial consequences after the termination of relationships is observed between women and men. Whether individuals choose to enter the job market or not primarily depends on their personal willingness to do so. Married women often exhibit reduced participation in the labor market, either opting not to work or choosing fewer working hours.
Thus, women tend to possess fewer abilities and assets than men when a relationship comes to an end. This statement is particularly applicable if they opted to cease working and instead concentrated on maintaining the household and raising children, resulting in their professional skills becoming outdated. The situation can be complicated by the need to attend to children. A woman’s ability to effectively manage her work and time becomes more complex when she becomes a parent, as she must simultaneously tend to her children, household duties, and earn an income.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence presented above, it is clear that there is a pressing need to address the high divorce rates within the population. Firstly, it has a direct impact on the well-being of divorcees, reducing their social activity and personal well-being. Secondly, it is highly detrimental to children who have to endure parental conflict on a prolonged basis. Lastly, divorced households tend to experience severe economic disadvantages, particularly from a female perspective. Therefore, divorce poses a significant threat to both individuals and society as a whole, necessitating attention from healthcare practitioners and policymakers.
References
Hald, G. M., Ciprić, A., Sander, S., & Strizzi, J. M. (2022). Anxiety, depression and associated factors among recently divorced individuals. Journal of Mental Health, 31(4), 462-470.
Kreyenfeld, M., & Trappe, H. (2020). Parental life courses after separation and divorce in Europe. Springer Nature.
Miralles, P., Godoy, C., & Hidalgo, M. D. (2023). Long-term emotional consequences of parental alienation exposure in children of divorced parents: A systematic review. Current Psychology, 42(14), 12055-12069.