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Psychological Effects of Divorce on Adults

According to Dr. Paul R. Amato and Dr. Juliana M. Sobolewski, "Individuals with divorced parents are at increased risk of experiencing psychological problems in adulthood." These problems can range from having difficulty with the adult's ability to establish relationships to severe depression.

  1. Adult Children of Divorced Parents

    • Adult children of divorced parents can develop trust issues that make it difficult for them to get into, or maintain, personal relationships of their own. This is less likely to occur when the adult child of divorced parents has positive experience in a relationship before the divorce of his parents occurs. Teens are likely to carry the memory of a divorce into adulthood, but to what degree is subject to different factors. According to Kathleen O'Connell Corcoran of Mediate, these factors include the intensity of conflict between parents, the child's relationship with each parent and the amount of attention the parents are able to devote to the child's needs. If these elements are positive, the child is less likely to carry a=issues into adulthood.

    Women

    • The effects of divorce on adult women ranges from stress related to financial difficulties to trouble forming relationships due to trust issues. The latter is especially true if infidelity was a part of the divorce issue. Women can also suffer from self-esteem issues, again, in cases of infidelity. Also, according to Kathleen O'Connell Corcoran of Mediate, "Women who work and place their children in child care experience a greater stigma than men in the same position," which can also lead to self esteem issues and even depression. Anger and resentment often compound these issues.

    Men

    • Men can develop depression and self esteem issues due to loss of parental control, a reduction of finances (where child support is in place), and the loss of social connection, which often revolves around the marital partnership. Depending upon the cause of the divorce, anger issues may develop as well.

    Adults Over 50

    • Mid-life Crisis is a term applied to men and women and has been attributed as the cause of divorce in many long-term marriages. The psychological effects of divorce on adults over 50 who have been married to the same partner for many years can lead to depression due to a sense of having lost purpose. At this point in life, when a married couple should be feeling settled, being thrust into a single situation again can cause mental anxiety and due to an uncertain future.

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