ii 48 The Negative Effects of Divorce on the Behavior of Children CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction Research states that half of marriages in the United States will end in divorce, and about half of American children will experience the divorce of their parents before the age of 18 (Amato, 2000; Copen et al., 2012). According to the US Census Bureau, The rate of divorce in America is computed as the number of divorces relative to 1,000 married ladies, during the late 1980s and early 1990s; the rate of divorce reached a historic high of 22.6 divorces (United States Census Bureau, 2013). Research has focused on the reasons that's “why” and methodology that is “how” divorce affects children’s adjustment, given a large number of children that are affected by divorce. Research regularly shows a negative correlation between parental divorce and children wellbeing. For example, children coming from divorced families tend to deal more harshly with life’s circumstances, by experiencing depression and get stuck forming close relationships with others. Children also tend to have antisocial behaviors. In addition to these measures, establishing and developing a close intimate relationship is an important indicator of how children adjust to their parents’ divorce. Research has found parental divorce to have a significant adverse effect on children’s relationship, such as intimacy and establishing trust and close relationship with others (Daly, 2003). Among children of divorce, few studies have examined boys and girls emotional perspective about divorce. There is less research on the long-term effect of parental divorce and coping strategies about how children focused on divorce. The rates of divorce rose a dramatic 79 percent in Divorce on Children the United States between 1970 and 1977. Although these escalated rates have since declined, many marriages still end up in divorce. According to the US Census Bureau (2013), in the 1970s, children were considered better off living with one parent than living with both parents during and amidst conflict, abuse, or both. Indeed, there is a substantial affirmation from many research studies that indicate a “conflict-ridden” marriage is not in the best interest of the children. This research paper summarizes the findings of several recent studies related to this question. 1.2 Background of the Problem Despite personal values, community standards, or religious teachings, divorce is a fact of life, as shown by these facts: 2 of 5 children will experience the divorce of their parents before they reach of 18; About 25 percent of every child will all people regardless of spending some time in a step family regardless of race, color, national origin, A couple’s marriage lasts about 7.2 sex, age, or disability. According to US Census Bureau, divorce rate leveled in the 1980’s at the rate of 11 percent lower than in 1979 and there are about 1,250,000 divorces cases per year in the United State.

1. ii
48
The Negative Effects of Divorce on the Behavior of Children
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Research states that half of marriages in the United States will
end in divorce, and about half of American children will
experience the divorce of their parents before the age of 18
(Amato, 2000; Copen et al., 2012). According to the US Census
Bureau, The rate of divorce in America is computed as the
number of divorces relative to 1,000 married ladies, during the
late 1980s and early 1990s; the rate of divorce reached a
historic high of 22.6 divorces (United States Census Bureau,
2013). Research has focused on the reasons that's “why” and

2. methodology that is “how” divorce affects children’s
adjustment, given a large number of children that are affected
by divorce. Research regularly shows a negative correlation
between parental divorce and children wellbeing.
For example, children coming from divorced families tend to
deal more harshly with life’s circumstances, by experiencing
depression and get stuck forming close relationships with
others. Children also tend to have antisocial behaviors. In
addition to these measures, establishing and developing a close
intimate relationship is an important indicator of how children
adjust to their parents’ divorce. Research has found parental
divorce to have a significant adverse effect on children’s
relationship, such as intimacy and establishing trust and close
relationship with others (Daly, 2003). Among children of
divorce, few studies have examined boys and girls emotional
perspective about divorce. There is less research on the long-
term effect of parental divorce and coping strategies about how
children focused on divorce.
The rates of divorce rose a dramatic 79 percent in Divorce on
Children the United States between 1970 and 1977. Although
these escalated rates have since declined, many marriages still
end up in divorce. According to the US Census Bureau (2013),
in the 1970s, children were considered better off living with one
parent than living with both parents during and amidst conflict,
abuse, or both. Indeed, there is a substantial affirmation from
many research studies that indicate a “conflict-ridden” marriage
is not in the best interest of the children. This research paper
summarizes the findings of several recent studies related to this
question.
1.2 Background of the Problem
Despite personal values, community standards, or religious
teachings, divorce is a fact of life, as shown by these facts: 2 of
5 children will experience the divorce of their parents before
they reach of 18; About 25 percent of every child will all people
regardless of spending some time in a step family regardless of
race, color, national origin, A couple’s marriage lasts about 7.2

3. sex, age, or disability. According to US Census Bureau, divorce
rate leveled in the 1980’s at the rate of 11 percent lower than in
1979 and there are about 1,250,000 divorces cases per year in
the United States; and every year, over 1 million children under
age 18 are involved in a divorce (United States Census Bureau,
2013).
Divorce is so complicated a phenomenon than it appears on the
outside. Discontinuing a marriage relationship is not a short-
term occurrence that occurs in a courtroom but a process.
Usually, some circumstances and conducts on the part of either
spouse's erode the positive feelings toward one or the other or
both. Throughout the duration, one or both of the couple
becomes persuaded that the relationship is not at least
functional. The divorcing couples and the whole family
encounter rapid changes that impact nearly every aspect of their
lives.
There have been dramatic and remarkable changes in American
family in the last five decades. There are now a large number of
the family structure present in today’s society including
married, divorced, cohabitating, step families, single, foster,
same-sex couples, and intergenerational households. However,
marriage remains the desired status in society, with a lot of the
early research on family change referring to stable married
families in analytic models. A number of research have been
committed to understanding the effect of parental divorce on
children and research propose that some ramifications of
divorce are long-lasting, but more research his especially
needed on the long-term impact outcomes of children of
divorce.
According to Wolchik, Schenck, and Sandler (2009), parental
divorce is one of the most prevalent adversities experienced by
adults, and children in the United States. Research states that
children who experienced parental divorce are at risk for a host
of adverse outcomes. Mustonen et al., (2011), says that research
has measured divorce and the consequences it has on children
and found the association between parental divorce in childhood

4. and the quality of intimate relationship children have in early
adulthood. The majority of these studies have consistently
found a negative correlation between parental divorce or
otherwise non-intact family structure and children’s intimate
relationship.
The effects of divorce for both boys and girls needs further
research to compare the differences. There is a necessity of
further research to differentiate whether or not divorce affects
more boys than girls; and this are the gaps and tensions that this
writer will be addressed in this proposed study. For example,
Mustonen, et al., (2011) used data a longitudinal 16- year
prospective follow-up between 1983 and 1999 to explore the
effect of various family structures on children ages 8 to 16
relationship outcomes. The results showed on both measures of
parental divorce in child hood and intimate relationships quality
in adulthood, children from two-parent homes since birth, on
average, significantly less achieved children from divorce
homes, parents death and multiple transition homes by 82%.
1.3 Problem Statement
A child's view of separation will be dictated by age and sexual
orientation, and, in addition, the youngster's history of anxiety
and adapting. At the point when unpleasant occasions exceed
accessible defensive elements, even the strongest tyke can
create issues. A developing assortment of data proposes that
sure components may make a few kids more at danger for badly
adjusting than other youngsters. Some are unchangeable, and
some existed before separation. Others apply impressive
weights on children at the season of detach mentor separate, and
still others impact the youngsters taking after separation.
Stress, unreliability issues, family and companions' contention,
family disregard, and financial hardship are issues kids
experience from segregation. Separation is traumatic to tyke
wellbeing because children and their parents need to manage the
misfortune. Young men and young ladies bargain contrastingly
with misfortunes. This examination is going to attempt and
separate regardless of whether separation influences a bigger

5. number of guys than females. The effects of divorce are entirely
unsettling. Despite the fact that the gatherings that choose to
break up their union may trust that it benefits them, it may not
be beneficial for them. Separation has numerous effects to
different substances. Its effects range from mental to money
related. It likewise influences the kids who are constrained by
another status startlingly. They need to live with one guardian
rather than two folks. Exploration demonstrates that offspring
of the gatherings who wish to break up their marriage are maybe
a most exceedingly awful portion influenced groups.
It is unfortunate that divorce affects children throughout their
lives. Noteworthy is the fact that children of divorced partners
are more vulnerable to abuse. Parents provide social security for
their children. However, in an instance where the parents live
apart as they are divorced, the children do not get the parental
love they should receive from their parents. Research indicates
that such children are prone to drug and substance abuse
particularly in the teenage due to the adolescent crisis. They
exhibit severe cases of behavior flaws, cognitive and emotional
challenges among other problems. Those who may not be able
to handle such challenges may result in solitude and suicide
among other anti-social behaviors.
1.4 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this quantitative, experimental, causal-
comparative study is to examine males and females, high school
students, in a suburban school in Connecticut for the year 2015-
2016 school year, compared to inner-city high school students
in the same academic year 2015-2016. Divorce affects
children’s lives by leaving a negative connotation in childhood
and in the later stages of their adult lives which make it
difficult for them to develop intimate relationships with others.
Marriage is declining. Marriage is not what it used to be.
Society is the same but individuals are changing, and their view
of marriage is also changing especially for individuals who have
experience divorce themselves. Males and females deal with
divorce differently and trying to discover what mediated role

6. play a factor in divorce among both males and female will lay
the foundation for ongoing debate.
The literature review will investigate tactics to control the best
way to assist children as they manage and deal with the
difficulty associated with their parents' divorce. This study will
tend to provide a better systematic meaning of the present study
considering the affect divorce has on children and how to best
view parental divorce as a primary source of stressors.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions guide this study:
R1) Will children whose parents have divorced experience
emotional disturbance compared to those continuously married
biological parents?
R2) Will children will be pressure to face the ramifications of
their parents’ divorce by having emotional difficulties as they
approach adulthood compared to children with continuously
married biological parents?
R3) Will parental divorce be positively related to children’s
developing intimate relationship?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
H1 Children whose parents divorce experience emotional
disturbance compared to those whose parents are married
continuously
H2 Children whose parents divorce have pressure to face the
ramifications as they approach adulthood compared to those
whose parents are continuously married
H3 Parental divorce relate negatively to children’s developing
intimate relationship
1.7 Research Variables
The independent variable in this study will be divorce whereas
the dependent variable will be the long-term effect on children.
1.8 Advancing Scientific Knowledge
The quantitative case study will advance knowledge in
understanding differences between divorced and non-divorced
factor. The extant research is relatively limited in investigating

7. the effectiveness of divorce. Children that come from divorced
home are traumatized and devastated from these experiences
because divorce has a negative effect on children involved in
the process. Wallerstein, (2000) statesthat a child that comes
from divorce homes must deal with feelings of anguish, distress
and lack of self-confidence issues that can become problematic
later on in their adult lives.
There is currently a gap in the literature, concerning whether
divorce affects more males than females. The study is minimal
to the impact divorce has on children because there may be
further issues of blended family, family and step-family issues,
and remarriages. This literature review pays attention to divorce
families, the process, transition and the impact it has on the
children involved. Additional limitations contain a limited
amount of time to complete the study and an extensive variation
of literature. This research study will serve as a resource for
divorced children who are interested in understanding some
background information about divorce.
1.9 Significance of the Study
Separation happens in six stages: The passionate separation
revolves around the crumbling's issue marriage. This phase
more often than not occurs over duration of time, which
fluctuates from couple to couple. The positive sentiments of
adoration and fondness are dislodged by expanding feelings of
outrage, dissatisfaction, hurt, disdain, abhorrence, or scorn, and
the observation that the positive emotions are gone until the end
of time. The qualities that pulled in the couple to one another
turn out to be less essential in the vicinity of these negative
emotions. The legitimate separation depends on there a son for
the separation. Regardless of the fact that "no-shortcoming"
separation laws exist, one or both separating mates, as a rule,
states reasons why the other is at issue. The law more often than
not perceives contradictorily as the satisfactory purpose behind
the separation. This period of the separation procedure includes
the lawful documentation that the couple is no more hitched to
one another. The financial separation manages cash and

8. property.
For some separating couples, this is the most unpredictable
period of separation. Feelings frequently run high concerning
separating material merchandise aggregated amid the marriage.
On the off chance that the couple can't arrange a reasonable
property and resource settlement, the court will command what
it considers a reasonable conveyance to each of the separating
persons. The co-parental separation manages authority, single
guardian homes, and appearance. This is additionally an
extremely passionate piece of the separating procedure.
Customarily, moms were naturally given the care of their kids
unless they were turned out to be unfit. Today, most authority
choices are presented on a defense by-case premise, and the
tyke or kids are set with the guardian regarded equipped
forgiving the general best environment to them. It is regular for
the non-custodial guardian to pay money related youngster
bolster installments to the custodial guardian. Now and again,
the court grants joint care in which both folks has a pretty much
equivalent obligation in the bringing up of their kids.
The findings of the study may highlight how children are
impacted by their parents divorced. Although it seems that
divorce rates are unlikely to fall, it is important to single out
some of the factors that contribute to therise in cases of divorce
among couples to look for viable solutions to this menace. The
impacts of divorce on the children, couples, and the society
cannot be overlooked as they are serious. The government and
other entities in authority should conduct aggressive campaigns
aimed at helping citizens understand the risks of divorce to
them, and their children. The campaigns ought to emphasize the
advantages of an intact marriage in the long run. The
government may also come up with strict laws to guide the
process of divorce. This will ensure that only genuine couples
file a divorce case. The lengthy process of a divorce may also
discourage some from divorcing untimely. To achieve this, the
law ought to demand that couples prove that it will be harmful
to the children if the union continues.

9. 1.10 Rationale for Methodology
The research objective is to use a quantitative research
methodology to determine the effects divorce has on children.
The method will consist of two groups: experimental and
control. The population of interest would consist of children
that have divorced parents. The main subjects of interest would
be the children; consisting of elementary, middle, and high
schools students. The experimental version of the study will
include a larger number of participants and controls for males
effects to prevent outliers and confounds. The experimental
design will also use random assignment and pulls from the
entire population of elementary, middle, and high school
students available to the researchers, increasing the external and
internal validity of the research.
The case study design was selected based on the fact that the
main research goal is to help children deal and cope with their
parents divorced. The outcome of this study is to show how
divorce can have a negative relationship between parental
divorce and children’s perspective by answering the research
questions:
R1) Will children whose parents have divorced experience
emotional disturbance compared to those continuously married
biological parents?
R2) children will be coerced to face the repercussions of their
parents’ divorce by having psychological difficulties as they
approach adulthood compared to children with continuously
married biological parents?
R3) Will parental divorce be positively related to children’s
developing intimate relationship?
The quantitative research design was selected because
quantitative research aims to rely primarily on the collection
and analysis of numerical information that can be converted into
numbers. The quantitative method seeks precise measurements
and analysis of the target population of target concepts to
answer the what, where, when, not just the “Why” that
qualitative research focuses on. The quantitative research

10. design is a good way of finalizing results and proving or
disproving the assumption. The structure has not changed for
many years, so is standard across many empirical fields and
disciplines. The results of quantitative research can are seen as
real and unbiased if properly designed by filtering out external
factors. This study is the beginning of the research on the long-
term effects divorce has on children. The study will use a
bottom-up approach due to the environment and educational
setting that is being observed. Creswell, (2009), states that
quantitative study are essential for testing the results collected
by a series of qualitative experiments, leading to a conclusive
answer, and a narrowing down of possible directions for follow-
up research to take. The procedure of the study includes
advancement in the processes and reviews from the information
gathered from the research question. The information on the
research question will help analyzed relevant information from
the data collected.
1.11 Nature of the Research Design forthe Study
The American family has experienced exceptional changes in
the most recent five decades. There is currently a large number
of family structures present in today's general public including
wedded, separated, cohabitating, stepfamilies, single, foster,
same-sex couples and intergenerational families. By and by,
marriage remains a pined for status in the public arena, with a
significant part of the early research on family change utilizing
stable wedded families as the reference bunch in systematic
models, Decades of examination have been devoted to
understandings the impact of parental separation on youngsters.
The examination has found that youngsters who experienced
parental separated are at danger for a mixed bag of unfavorable
results (Amato, 2010; Cherlin et al., 1991; Lansford, 2009).
1.12 Definition of Terms
The following terminologies will be used operationally in this
study.
1. Divorce-a judicial declaration dissolving a marriage in whole
or in part especially one that releases the marriage from all

11. matrimonial obligations (Dictionary.com, 2015).
2 Transition- to make a change, conversion (Dictionary. com,
2015).
3 Co-parenting- the sharing of parental responsibility by the
divorced parents of a child. Joint or shared custody of a child
by divorced parents (Dictionary. com, 2015).
4 Custodial Parent- This will be used to refer to the parent who
has either sole physical custody of the child or the parent who
the child resides with for a majority of the time by the court.
5 Well-being- a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a
state characterized by comfortable health, and happiness
(Dictionary. com, 2015).
1.13 Assumption, Limitations, Delimitations
One can state that there is no effective way to measure and
determined whether or not divorce affects more males and
females. A child’s comprehension of divorce will in most cases
be determined by age and gender, as well as the child’s record
of anxiety and ways to deal with problems. When traumatic
issues exceed preventive factors, a child can develop problems.
Statistic proposes that particular influences may make some
children more at risk for change than other children.
It is believed that behavior problems, depression, conflict
within families, and school performance negatively impacted
children who come from divorced. It is believed that divorce
affects the changes in children’s everyday functioning, but there
are other factors to consider. It can be is inferred that the
literature is from a believable and authentic source. The study is
limited because it's hard to measure whether or not divorce
affects more males than females. The literature review will
focus on families that are in transition as the result of divorce
and the impact it has on the wellbeing of the children involved.
Even though there may be other factors of blended family,
remarriage, and step-family issues, which hinders children from
moving forward, the limitations include a diverse variation of
literature and not enough time for this study.
This segment of the research will introduce the limitations and

12. the delimitations in the research: Only one inner-city school and
suburban school will be used in this study. There are other
inner-city schools and suburban schools that may be compared
to this research.
1.14 Summaryand Organization of the Remainder of the Study
This research gives an overview about how divorce impact
children lives and reasons children may be unable to find trust,
feel guilty by blaming themselves for the divorce, break-up,
and view their parent's separation or divorce in a complex way.
Divorce is one of the modern day social evils that are unlikely
to end anytime soon. In fact, it is a vice that a society ought to
learn to cope with. Despite all the arguments put forward
against divorce, no volume of facts can actually prevent the
occurrence of divorce. Individuals are aware of their
constitutional rights and are unlikely to stay in abusive marital
unions for public image. Although the trend that the dissolution
of marriage has taken is worrying, the situation is unlikely to be
salvaged (Clarke-Stewart and Brentano, 2008). However,
knowledge is power. The methodology in this study will be
quantitative. Creswell, (2009), states that quantitative analysis
utilizes discrete theoretical expectations; action plan; and
methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
Quantitative research is adaptable in nature, and it is the main
reason this method was chosen to conduct this study. Human
subjects will be used in this research. Questionnaires, surveys,
interview and personal observation records will be employed to
collect data. The Literature Review and the study’s
Methodology follow in Chapter 2 and 3. Chapter 3 will describe
the methodology, research design, and procedures for the
investigation.

13. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
Sun (cited in ValderValk et al., 2005) found that children that
come from divorced homes and parents may have a weak sense
of psychological well-being than those who grew up with intact
families. There have been many studies on divorce and the
numerous ways it affects children. Research also confirms that
children of divorced parents may experience emotional
problems such as loneliness and depression (Asetline and
Vander Valk cited in Vander Valk et al., 2005). Divorce refers
to the legal dissolution of a marital union of two parties that
were once legally recognized as partners. Divorce is quite
frequent in the modern times when compared to the ancient
times. Thecase is worse in first world countries such as the
United States of America where divorce rates are alarming.
In America, there is one separate more or less every 36
seconds*. That is about 2,400 separations for each day, 16,800
separations for every week and 876,000 divorces a year. The
usual length of a marriage that finishes in separation is eight
years. Individuals hold up a normal of three years after a
separation to remarry (on the off chance that they remarry by
any stretch of the imagination). The usual age group for couples
experiencing their first divorce is 30 years of age. Research
states that seventy-nine point six percent of custodial moms get
bolster recompense while just 29.6 percent of custodial fathers
get a bolster grant (Daly, 2003). Forty-six point nine percent of
non-custodial moms thoroughly default on the bolster, while
just 26.9 percent of non-custodial fathers default on backing.
Around 1 percent of the aggregate numbers of presently wedded
same-sex couples get separated every year, in examination to
around 2 percent of straight wedded couples. (Note that the
percent of couples that get separated in the end is 50 percent;

14. however, one and only or two percent get separated in a
particular year.)
On the off chance that your folks are joyfully hitched, your
danger of separation abatements by 14 percent. Individuals who
hold up to wed until they are beyond 25 years old are 24 percent
less inclined to get separated. Living respectively before getting
hitched can build the shot of getting separated by as much as 40
percent. In the event that you've gone to school, your danger of
separation reductions by 13 percent. 2008 voter information
demonstrates that "red" states (expresses that tend to vote
Republican), have higher separation rates than "blue" states
(shows that tend to vote Democrat). The Barna Research Group
measured separation insights by religion. The group found that
29 percent of Baptists are separated (the most noteworthy for a
US religious gathering), while just 21 percent of
skeptics/rationalists were separated (the least).
The high rates of divorce have made the marriage institution
quite unreliable. Many people question its validity because it
does not last long as it used to last in the previous times. Some
individuals indicate that they would not wish to get married as
they have lost faith in the marriage institution. Many people,
especially religious faithful cite infidelity as the main cause of
divorce while others believe that the hard economic times have
its share of contribution to marriage break-ups and eventually
divorce. Although the Holy Scriptures detests divorce, it is
unfortunate that the vice is still prevalent among modern day
generations. Currently, few people are entering the marriage
institution while many leave it untimely through a divorce.
Others opt for cohabitation and single parenthood instead of
getting married. Come-we-stay arrangements have become the
new face of the marriage institution in the modern day. Many
indicators signal a probable collapse of the marriage institution.
Although it was one of the most valued institutions and family
unit in the ancient times, it is sad that it is a shadow of its
former self. Research indicates that divorce is not favorable to
the children and even to the parties who decide to dissolve their

15. union untimely. Divorce affects children in many different
ways. The literature described emotional effects, behavioral and
social, functioning, and stressors children of divorce may
encounter in their home and this may later tumble over into
their emotional, and everyday lives will be presented.
2.2 Background to the Problem
According to US Census Bureau, in the United States, analysts
evaluate that 40%–50% of every single first marriage, and 60%
of second relational unions, will end in separation. There are
some understood elements that put individuals at higher danger
of segregation: wedding at an early age, less training and wage,
living respectively before marriage, a premarital pregnancy, no
religious connection, originating from a separated family, and
sentiments of unreliability (United States Census Bureau, 2013).
The most widely recognized reasons individuals give for their
separation are absence of responsibility, a lot of belligerence,
disloyalty, wedding excessively youthful, unlikely desires, lack
of balance in the relationship, absence of arrangement for
marriage, and misuse. Some of these issues can be settled, and
separation forestalled. Duty is having a long haul perspective of
the marriage that helps us not get overpowered by the issues and
difficulties normal. At the point when there is a high
responsibility in a relationship, we feel more secure and are
willing to give out more for the relationship to work well. Duty
is of course a variable in why a few couples stay together and
others separation. Separation is vital now and again, and it may
even help to safeguard the ethical limits of marriage. In any
case, folks have an obligation to do all that they sensibly can to
keep up and repair a marriage, particularly when the
explanations behind separation are not the most hazardous ones.
Obstructions to leaving a marriage, for example, monetary
stresses can keep relational unions together in the short run.
Notwithstanding, unless there is a change in the relationship, in
the long term, the hindrances are typically insufficient to keep a
marriage together for the long haul.
The examination can give applicable certainties, yet inquire

16. about alone can't answer inquiries of good judgment. Most
Americans (70%) trust that separate, as a rule, is an ethically
worthy choice.88, and numerous vibe that separate is an
individual, private matter and that it is their decision alone
regardless of whether to separate. Lawfully, this is right. A few
people may feel that a couple of months of contentious and
frustrations legitimize their separation while different couples
will stay together even through treachery and misuse. It is
critical for the law to permit the alternative of separation yet it
does not approve the law to choose the youngsters' wellbeing.
Separation secures and highlights the ethical limits around
marriage. A few circumstances and practices unmistakably
abuse those limits. People have the privilege to be physically
and sincerely safe in a relationship. What's more, society has
the privilege to attempt to secure the ethical limits of marriage
to safeguard the uprightness and even hallowed nature of such
an essential organization as marriage. The stakes are
considerably higher when youngsters are included because those
kids have an enthusiasm for the marriage. Furthermore, society
has an enthusiasm for the prosperity of the cutting edge.
2.3 Theoretical Foundations and Conceptual Framework
The study will adopt Structural-Strategic Theory developed by
Jay Haley. According to the theory, as opposed to spending the
session concentrating on past issues, he pinpoints present
matters that need changing and afterward gives down to earth
ventures to accomplishing those progressions. They expect to
give and engage a brief treatment where the advisor coordinates
the customers toward new conduct and collaborations.
The advocate looks at why challenges proceed. Specifically,
what reason do they serve or what payoffs originate from
unfortunate conduct. The guide additionally assesses the
imperceptible system of their familial relationship, which
portrays fundamental hypothesis, made by Salvador Minuchin.
This incorporates principles and characteristics of connections
between every part. As indicated by the hypothesis, settling
clashes in a marriage incorporates objective setting, utilizing

17. outside assets, and teaching so as to change the connections'
structure methods for acting in an unexpected way. This will
make healthier couple and family co-operations.
The theory is relevant to the study in that if it is employed it
will partially solve the problem of family conflicts and divorce
at large.
2.4 Review of the Literature
Literature will be reviewed from the following sections:
2.4.1 Theory 1: Children Feelings and Behavior
2.4.2 Theory 2: Children Age and their Respond to Divorce
2.4.3 Theory 3: The Bond between Parent and Child
2.4.1 Theme 1: Children Feelings and Behavior
Using the National parental divorce expectations might mediate
the relationship between parental divorces and associated with
many risks factors. These risks factors are the parental loss,
financial and economic loss, and stress in their lives, lack of
parental involvement and competence, and exposure to parents’
conflict. In other words, do differences in parental expectations
between divorced and non-divorced parents help explain
differences in children’s poor intimate relationship? According
to Amato and Simon (2005), parental divorce or separation may
influence children negatively in many different ways, including
behavior problem and difficulty as children adjust and transition
from adolescent to adulthood and these are warning signs.
The more a child is included in their parental divorce, the more
disorganization, dispiritedness, despondency, and
unwaveringness confrontations he or she is prone to encounter
and associates with every guardian before the separation. On the
off chance that pre-separation associations with folks were
individual and supported, the danger for post-separation issues
is decreased. On the off chance that the questions with guardian
youngster connections existed before the separation, those
issues would likely turn out to be more terrible after the
separation. Folks' powerlessness to isolate their parts as

18. guardian and life partner. Separating mates who can't serenely
settle on choices about their youngsters' welfare and arrange
issues identified with the kids put those children at expanded
danger for issues. Nonstop open clash between mates. The more
prominent the contention between the folks, the more prominent
the danger for youngsters to encounter enthusiastic turmoil. The
apparent loss of the non-custodial guardian. Unless additional
consideration is taken by both parents to support the
relationship between the non-custodial guardian and the
youngster, a kid may feel misfortune and even deserting.
Regarding their parental or pending divorce, children may show
frustration and anxiety by misbehaving, ignoring their parents
request and being disruptive. According to Amanto and Keith
(2005), the primary effects of divorce on children are found in
areas of self-image, social associations, school, functioning,
adjustment, self-concept, and social supports. There is other
research that support children's characteristics and performance,
which are warning signs, mentioned previously. Smith (1999)
states that children may try to hide their intense feelings of
sadness and anxiety that may result in difficulty expressing
feelings. Children affected by divorce may have problem talking
and articulating their feelings, and this can sometimes make
their friends and siblings, and friends to feel angry and
uncomfortable
Smith (1999) states that how children react to their parental
divorce varies based on their age. For example, younger, and
less mature children act out and regress more than older
children who are developmentally able of understanding what is
happening in their family (Smith, 1999). Some children find it
difficult to speak to their parents about how they are feeling and
may seem uncomfortable talking about the divorce during this
early stage. However, other children are worried about hurting
their parents’ feelings and hide their emotions. Being honest
can also be an issue if one parent has full custody and the other
co-parenting.
Children from divorced families may not do well in school.

19. They may be subjected to scorn by their fellow learners who
live in fully functional families complete with both parents.
Therefore, the rates of school dropouts are higher among
children of divorced parents when compared to children from
intact families. Life may also become quite challenging for
children who are forced by divorce to live with one parent. A
single parent may not always fend well for the children as it
was the case when they had the two parents. Although some
parents promise to take care of their children once they are
divorced, they may withdraw their support later. Such children
may lack school fees and other resources meant for their social
welfare.
When one of the parents decides to remarry, the children may
have to live with their stepparent. Step-parents may not always
augur well with the children from the previous relationships.
Hence, the children may have to live in a dysfunctional family
built on hatred. If they do not receive proper guidance to cope
with the step-parent, such children may live an emotionally
drained life and may fall into crime, drug and substance abuse
among other self-destructive behaviors.
Divorce also goes against the religious scriptures. When
individuals file a divorce case against each other, they violate
the holy teachings. It is imperative to note that religious
scriptures dictate that a marital union should be a life-long
commitment, and only death should part the partners. The
scriptures urge the partners to remain active in their union at all
times regardless of the situation. Turbulent times should not
shake the union. Arguably, parting through a divorce is not
encouraged in the holy books.
Divorce impacts negatively on the welfare of the two parties.
Although they have to agree to a divorce, it has been found out
that divorced individuals experience emotional problems. The
psychological attachment to one’s partner makes it challenging
to form relationships in future. They may end up lonely and
emotionally drained in the long run. Some of them may lose
their financial stability after divorce. Those who moved

20. commercial joint ventures when they were married may lose
their source of income once they are divorced. When children
do not live with all their biological parents, they are likely to
remain isolated in the society. Research indicates that teenagers
raised by a single parent are often too aggressive. Similarly,
they are more liable to divorce when compared to children
raised by two biological parents. Some of them may lose faith
in the marriage institution and may end up in single parenthood.
Female children are particularly affected by divorce. When they
live with their mother in the absence of their father, such
children may feel insecure and are vulnerable to abuse. Some of
them may become hostile to the step-parent; thus, bringing
problems in the union. The purpose of the study is to explore
how divorce impacts children. The research objective is to
communicate the detrimental effects divorce has on children.
The methodology will consist of two groups: experimental and
control. The population of interest would consist of children
that have divorced parents. The main subjects of interest would
be the children; consisting of elementary, middle, and high
school students. The experimental version of the study will
include a larger number of participants and controls for males
effects to prevent outliers and confounds. The experimental
design will also use random assignment and pulls from the
entire population of elementary, middle, and high school
students available to the researchers, increasing the external and
internal validity of the study.
2.4.2 Theme 2: Children Age and their Respond to Divorce
Research states that one-third of divorces occur when children
are under the age of five and this is the age groups that has
difficulty verbalizing and expressing their feelings. According
to Spruijt et al. (cited in VanderValk et al., 2005), girls tend to
understand their emotions, while boys tend to act out emotions
through externalized problem behavior. Many children are
affected by divorce in many ways; however, children under five

21. may suffer from specific reactions.
According to Smith, (1999), when a baby is mirroring their
parents’ smiles or laughter, it is possible that children can
mimic similar sadness and anxiety when their parents feel those
emotions also. Research states that both boys and girls may find
it challenging to focus in school because of the stressors at
home, during middle childhood. For example, children may
experience the lack-of-focus in the classroom, day dreaming,
leaving their homework at the other parents’ home and
forgetting their assignments.
It is a big responsibility for parents to keep track of their
child’s homework, paperwork, due to the family being transition
because permissions lips may go unapproved or lost in the
movement for half a week in one household and part of the
week with the other parent. Teenagers are a high-risk group
during a family divorce.
According to Smith, (999), states that there are many feelings
teens have in reaction to their parent divorce because they
mourn the loss. Teenagers are liable because they are beginning
to gain an understanding of the adult world and sometimes
conflict in how they should show their emotions (Smith, 1999).
A teenager is also surprised and in denial because they make
believe that the divorce never happen, and their family will
continue to function and remains intact. Unhappiness and loss
are the emotions most likely to follow after the teen
acknowledges that the separation is permanent in their family.
When grief is too devastating to comprehend the result is
sadness, loss, and loneliness.
The depression represents the loss of the two-parent home they
are missing. Teenager gets depressed after realizing that their
family is no longer intact. Depression is the sensation of
loneliness and feeling of isolation from the world. When
children feel they have failed to unite their parents, their
feelings result in anger. Smith (1999) states that teenagers may
also feel ineffective attacked, unloved, or insufficient as a
consequence of the trauma of divorce. Some children experience

22. anxiety, fear, and confusion, and they will eventually encounter
feelings of relief and hope, but it takes time. Smith (1999),
states that teens may face guilt as they may blame themselves
for their parents’ decision to divorce. Children in time may
realize that their anger, embarrassment, or confusion, may go
away in time, and they have to accept the fact that they cannot
change their parent's marriage situation.
Parents tend to be co-parenting their children after confronting
the challenges of divorce. For example, some parents may feel
the need to carry on their parenting rights and responsibilities
after their relationship has ended. The divorced parents
emotional, financial, and social may still be associated with
their marriage because these divorced couples will continue to
be connected to one another because of their children. The well-
being and security of both the divorced parents and their
children will be a work in progress because divorced parents
may interact differently over childrearing duties. The outcome
of this study will reveal some of the advantages of parents that
continue to work together for the well-being of their children
after the divorce.
Although divorce is not desirable, it is sad that cases of divorce
are exceptionally high in the modern society. It is one of the
twenty-first-century malpractices that have startled many. It is
slowly an acceptable norm as people have learned to accept the
fact that divorce is here to stay. Many of them are quite
pessimistic about the future of the marriage institution. With
options such as single parenthood, come-we-stay, cohabitation
and child adoption, marriage is becoming increasingly
unnecessary. Besides, partners may opt for divorce in favor of
either of the above options. Enough literature exists over the
main causes of divorce. The research continues to develop as
some of the causes emanate from emerging issues.
The rates of divorce are on the rise. Social science researchers
indicate that there is a need to conduct research to determine the
most common causes of divorce in the modern society. The high
rates of divorce show that there are many causes of divorce in

23. the modern society. Unfaithfulness is one of the main causes of
divorce in the modern society. Currently, couples find it quite
difficult to trust their partners. Cases of individuals cheating on
their spouses are not rare. Some may keep more than one sexual
partners despite the fact that they have legally wedded partners.
Some have even found out that their spouses profess to same-
sex relationships. Such instances raise misunderstandings in the
union and may end up in divorce if the partners do not receive
enough counseling.
Communication technology has also been identified as one of
the causes of union break-ups and divorce in the long run. Some
individuals are addicted to technology such that they have little
if any time for their spouses. The rise of social media sites such
as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram among others have made
many individuals addicts of these locations. The emergence of
numerous dating sites has worsened the already fragile situation
among married individuals. Arguably, individuals may hook up
with lovers on the dating sites without the knowledge of their
spouses. This has been blamed for poor communication and lack
of time to each other.
In the modern society, it is quite difficult for one to trust their
spouse. Trust has become a thing of the past. When one realizes
that their partner has been cheating on them with either young
or older people, they are too frustrated and are unwilling to give
their unions a second chance. They may file a divorce case
citing infidelity. Research indicates that social networking has
been blamed for the rise in cases of dysfunctional marital
unions, quarrels at home and divorce in severe cases.
A divorce is an option in which one can leave a marital union.
Laws in many countries allow partners to file a divorce case
should they cite irreconcilable differences. This has made cases
of divorce rise as the legislation of the land allows couples to
end their marital union legally. The legality and ease in which
couples can end their union without breaching the law is also
one of the causes of divorce.
Some couples seek a divorce as they got married for the wrong

24. motives. This is mainly common for women who marry money
and not their partner. When they run out of money for any
reason, the women find it quite difficult to cope with such a
life. Similarly, they may not be spouses to their partners as they
never loved them in the first place. Some may get married to
escape the financial challenges that confront them in a single
life (Hetherington, Arasteh and National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development (U.S.), 1988). They have no
time to understand and empathize with their spouse. Research
indicates that divorce may also emanate from unmet
expectations. When couples enter into a marital union, they
have several expectations. When none or many of these
expectations fail to materialize, many of them feel bored and
may look for ways of walking out of the union legally.
2.4.3 Theme 3: The Bond between Parents and Child
The Parent-child relationships never end even after the divorce.
There is a bond that continues to develop during the divorce,
after the divorce and changes resulting in the family dynamics.
Wallerstein (2005) states that the relationship between parents
and their children will change during the divorce period and can
immediately bring emotional and behavioral changes. The
changes in children’s feelings and behaviors of children
mirrored the relationship between changes in the parental role
after the divorce. According to Granic and Sameroff (cited in
Patterson et al., 2004), changes in maternal depression for
females may impact parenting response and practices, and might
precipitate a loss. For example, a parent experiencing
depression may be allowed this emotion to take over their
discipline style, and how they response to the children’s
behavior and the amount of time and attention given to the
children.
Just about everybody concurs that separate influences every one
of the youngsters in the family sooner or later and to some
degree. A few impacts of separation develop quickly taking
after partition and some of this increment over the first years
taking after separation and afterward decay; still other may rise

25. later. Different variables lead to negative consequences for
youngsters. For instance, kids are unavoidably loaded by more
prominent obligations and feel less looked after. It is
conceivable that when a marriage closes, particularly on the off
chance that it closes in furious clash, folks can encounter a
decrease in their profound affections for their kids and the
degree to which they intentionally embrace obligations
regarding the youngsters.
Another factor is that the non-custodial parent tends to
disengage from his children over the years following a divorce.
A healthy father-child relationship is essential for children’s
long-term development.
A large portion of these transient impacts can antagonistically
influence long haul improvement in that they develop after
sometime. The force and lifespan of every issue is controlled by
these qualities identified with constructive post-separation
alteration: Parental capacity to determine post-separation strife
and displeasure, capacity of the custodial guardian to
effectively continue the child rearing part, position of the non-
custodial guardian to keep up a commonly fulfilling association
with the kid or kids, identity attributes of the youngster and the
ability to create adapting skills, ability of the kid to discover
and utilization emotionally supportive networks, lessened
depressive or furious reactions by the tyke and the age and sex
of the kid.
Offspring of separation has a tendency to wind up more
preservationist ethically than their guardians. They additionally
receive more conventional perspectives of how marriage and
family should be. In the same 10-year subsequent study
(Wallerstein, 1989), kids who balanced well had: A mother-tyke
relationship portrayed by shared admiration, thought, and a
mother who had redesigned her life and "had an
existence."Children living with their dad had a comparative
association with their dad as depicted in 1 above. Father had set
points of confinement on his expert advancements or he could
have a relationship with his kids. A positive relationship with

26. an arrangement of grandparents who stayed out of the parental
clash and recognized and addressed children' issues. A
background marked by dependability in the post separate family
game plans. Composed family units with guidelines and explicit
desires were essential. Seen a decent, reliable, and positive
grown-up couple relationship between no less than one guardian
and another accomplice.
Depression in children and depression in mothers goes hand in
hand. Effective parenting styles can improve once the parent
becomes aware of the sadness and seeks treatment or
professional help to get them back on track. Jeynes (2001)
states that most children recuperate from divorce within two or
three years following the process of the divorce. The stage of
adjustment is swift on children who come from divorced homes.
According to Jeynes (2001) children transition from divorced
homes or come from divorced home experience psychological
functioning that is similar to children from intact families.
Children who experience divorce have to deal with more
traumatic situations and more challenges in their lives. These
children also have difficulties establishing close intimate
relationships with people in their lives. These are reasons that
can lead to the negative stigma divorce has on children; because
a child that comes from divorced families has to deal with poor
self-worth, behavioral problems, and problems communicating
with friends and family. There have been lots of studies based
on this particular subject “divorce” and the negative
consequences it has on the children who come from divorced
home.
There are many external and internal influences that affect
children from divorced homes. Dacey and Travers (cited in
Dykeman, 2003), may reference to the many contributing
factors that impact children who have experienced divorce. For
example, the authors state that the age and gender of the
children at the time of the divorce and the level of collaboration
among the divorced parents tend to be issued. These factors
tend to influence the emotional and mental health of the child.

27. Children tend to isolate by not engaging in activities that they
once had joy doing.
Children emotional state may impact interactions with their
friends and family after experiencing the traumatic turmoil of
divorce. Children may wish not to express their concerns due to
feelings of numbness, shame, and blame. On the other hand,
children may choose an adult or a friend they trust and can vent
their feelings about the divorce without feeling guilty. Children
might choose not to talk about their feelings, and this can be a
sign of resilience or rebellion against their parents.
Children of divorced parents may also see a change in their
everyday lives. According to Hargreaves (1991), children adjust
more efficiently, learn successfully, and misbehave least when
home and school are both consistent, predictable and proactive
in meeting the child's needs. Asignificant predictor of a child’s
behavior may be a clue for parents and beneficial to their
relationship because this is a chance for both parents to set their
differences aside for the wellbeing of their child. Children who
struggle with ongoing behavior problems may experience
concerns related to the loss of their parents’ divorce.
Carlson (cited in Dykeman, 2003) found children who have
experienced a recent divorce in their family may have more
difficulty performing academically at school than children from
intact families. For example, children who are struggling in
school and having problems getting along with others might be
a cry for help because children blame themselves for their
parents’ divorce.
Children many have adverse behavioral changes after their
parents’ divorce. Hargreaves (1991) states that these changes
can present themselves in the lack of attention, do not care
attitude, an increase in impatience, inattentiveness, and
unhappiness. According to Wallerstein and Corbin (cited in
Dykeman, 2003), when children experience divorce, they may
also experience a significant impact upon their entire life
experiences. Some children may experience long-lasting
emotional effects into their adulthood that damage their ability

28. to preserve relationships. The result of parental divorce shapes
children emotionally and may impact self-esteem, future
relationships, dating, and marriage (Simons et al., cited in
Dykeman, 2003).
Mentorship programs would go a long way to helping couples
who intend to get married understand that the marriage
institution has its pitfalls. Hence, they should be ready to face
and handle challenges that sprout in their union (Berner, 1992).
The mentorship programs would also help couples who are
facing challenges in their marriage receive advice on how they
can revive their failing marital unions with their spouses. The
government may also make the covenant marriage one of the
choices as it binds the parties to the institution. Besides, the
process of divorce for couples married under the covenant
procedure is lengthy, and some of them may make a decision to
drop the divorce suit altogether. Lastly, religious institutions
ought to educate them assess understand that marriage is the
best environment in which children may be nurtured (Peterson,
1989). For them to bring up their children well, they ought to
remain married and not divorced.
2.5 Divorce from a Religious Perspective
Many religious doctrines condemn divorce. Christians believe
that marriage was meant to last forever; thus, divorce is not an
option for Christians. They even urge couples are experiencing
problems in their marital unions to seek intervention from the
religious figures to iron out the challenges in their union instead
of opting for divorce (Guttmann, 1993). Religious books such as
the Bible andthe Quran do not justify divorce. In fact, they
discourage it in the strongest terms possible. Concerns have
been raised over the decision that religious faithful should take
if they are in abusive and dysfunctional marital unions. Some
may opt to leave the union due to polygamy. However, the Holy
Scriptures such as the Quran and the Bible allow the man to
take more than one wife. No clear law guides the action of

29. religious faithful who find themselves in such challenging
situations in their marriage life. The Bible condemns adultery
and labels it as the ground in which divorce may be allowed.
However, it contradicts the command which urges Christians to
forgive each other for all the wrongdoings.
2.6 The Global Situation
Divorce in the modern day has become a globally debated
phenomenon. The cases of divorce rise every year. It is
unfortunate that many who file divorce cases are the elite
population. It is very rare to find a couple in the marginalized
rural areas such as in third world countries file a divorce case.
However, in developed countries, for instance the United States
of America, divorce is a thorn in the flesh. Some couples may
even enter into a marital union hoping to divorce later should
they find the union boring (Chiribogaand Catron, 1992).
‘Divorced’ has even become a relationship status that some
individuals use their profiles of their social media accounts.
Cases of divorce are quite high in continents such as Europe
when compared to some such as Africa. The case is attributed to
the large population of literate people who are unaware of their
constitution rights as spouses.
In the African continent, divorce rates are fairly low as divorce
is taboo in some regions. Those who mainly divorce in these
regions are elites who hold formal jobs and have a source of
livelihood. On the other hand, in marginalized areas, divorce is
unheard of. The case is attributed to very few disruptions and
influences. For instance, some of them may not even have
resources to access high-resolution communication devices
(Wallerstein, Lewisand Blakeslee, 2000). Hence, they are
unlikely to join dating and social media sites and hook up with
people of the opposite sex. Notably, in some marginalized
communities, infidelity is a serious crime. One who commits
such a crime automatically becomes a social outcast. Hence,
cases of infidelity are quite rare. Lastly, in Islamic countries,
divorce rates are also low. Although polygamy is accepted,
cases of divorce are quitter are.

30. 2.7 Summary
Long haul Effects of Divorce Findings from a few exploration
studies demonstrate that sure impacts of separation are entirely
persevering notwithstanding when an extensive variety of pre-
separation conditions is considered. Consider a synopsis'
portion articulations from a couple of these studies: Children
can at times experience what may be known as the "sleeper
impact". They recuperate rather rapidly taking after the
separation, but since of denied emotions at an intuitive level,
sentiments about the separation may develop sooner or later
further down the road. It is a deferred response. Proficient
guides have demonstrated that a broad range of traumatic
encounters of youth can be curbed in the intuitive. For instance,
sexual misuse or physical abuse may be "overlooked" for
various years and rise at some later point in adulthood. The
same can be valid for the injury brought on by separation. At a
5-year postliminiary, one investigation of separated youngsters
(Wallerstein, 1985) indicated the determination of resentment at
the guardian who had started the divorce. The power of aching
for the missing or inconsistently going to parent. The steadiness
of youth's wish to reconstitute the pre-separate crew. Moderate
to serious clinical despondency in more than 33% of the first
specimen.
Albeit most youthful grown-ups had touched base with the
understanding that the separation had been an insightful choice,
large portions of them stayed condemning of both folks for
having committed the error of a misinformed marriage. They
were particularly disparaging of their guardians for not having
redressed the oversight before the kids were conceived. A hefty
portion of these adolescents portrays themselves as having
developed more grounded and freer as an outcome of their
guardians' separation. There was an ambivalent quality to their
announcements. Physically, these members reported poorer
physical wellbeing than youngsters from in-place families.
Inwardly, they showed constant issues with the accompanying:
Fears of disloyalty, deserting, misfortune, and dismissal. Rising

31. nervousness in late high schoolers and mid-20s, emotions, and
recollections about their guardians' separation emerge with new
power as they enter adulthood. Deep rooted powerlessness to
theexperience of misfortune. Displeasure, hatred, and
threatening vibe. A lessening in mental prosperity. Sadness in
youthful adulthood. Low life fulfillment. Socially, the
youngsters' connections in later life were influenced as takes
after: Divorcing folks evidently set the stage for kids' poor
connections. Decrease in the capacity to create and keep up high
fellowships and dating relationships. Offspring of separation is
more probable themselves to separate as grown-ups. Prior sex.
Reprobate practices. Girls of separation are more prone to: wed
and have youngster’s early Give conception before marriage
separation apprehension of rehashing his or her guardians'
inability to keep up an adoring relationship. The trepidation of
responsibility and closeness. Less trust in the future companion.
The diminishment of hindrances toward separation as an answer
for conjugal troubles. Lower financial status. In relationship to
their guardians, grown-up offspring of divorce: Feel less
warmth for folks. Have less contact with them. Take part in less
between generational trades of help than do different grown-up
Although divorce is not recommended, it is wrong for someone
to hold onto an abusive union for fear of the social stigma
associated with divorce. Cases of women succumbing to
domestic violence for fear of leaving an abusive marriage
institution are not rare especially in rural areas where the level
of illiteracy is exceptionally high. However, when a couple
decides that they would want to end their union through a
divorce, they should think about the impacts of dissolving their
union to the children. They should also consider the age of
children who they wish to alienate from their biological parents.
Their misunderstanding should not affect the welfare of the
children. Hence, they ought to agree on how they are going to
raise the children once they are sure that they would like to get
divorced.

32. CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Methodology
The research objective is to communicate the detrimental
effects divorce has on children. The methodology will consist of
two groups: experimental and control. The population of
interest would consist of children that have divorced parents.
The main subjects of interest would be the children; consisting
of elementary, middle, and high school students. The
experimental version of the study will include a larger number
of participants and controls for males effects to prevent outliers
and confounds. The experimental design will also use random
assignment and pulls from the entire population of elementary,
middle, and high school students available to the researchers,
increasing the external and internal validity of the study.
3.2 Research Design
The research is a case study design. The case study will target
only inner-city and suburban school in the Eastern part of the
United States. The research design aligns with this elected
methodology because the case study will only inner-city and
suburban school in Eastern part of the United States. The
phenomena in the research design are to identify coping
strategies, educations and resources support in the Eastern part
of the United States.
The methodology use in this study will be a quantitative case
study. Human subjects will be used in this study. The data will
be collected using questionnaires, surveys, interviews and
observations. The author will create the tool use to collect the
data, which will includes questionnaires, surveys, interviews,
and observations. These documents will be used to determine
effects divorce has on children. The records will identify coping
strategies, insights, resources, children need after their parents
divorced. Using questionnaire, surveys, interviews with the
children will be helpful to clarify subject matter that will be

33. revealed in thestudy. This research will use the quantitative
method because using this approach will help the research
advance smoothly. The study will look for influences and
arguments by using questionnaires, surveys, interviews, and
personal observations with the school-age children. The study
will also look at the right responses and comments from the
children of school age by addressing and answering the research
question:
R1) Will children whose parents have divorced experience
emotional disturbance compared to those continuously married
biological parents?
R2) Will children will be forced to face the consequences of
their parents’ divorce by having emotional difficulties as they
approach adulthood compared to children with continuously
married biological parents?
R3) Will parental divorce be positively related to children’s
developing intimate relationship?
3.3 Target Population
Target population consists of items or people under
consideration in any field or enquiry. The study will involve
youths in the church and the church elders. The target
population of this study will be drawn from 50 males and
females (26 females; 24 males) will also report coming from
intact families at the time of the data collection process.3.4
Sample Size and Sampling Techniques
Sampling is the process of selecting a sub set of cases in order
to draw conclusions about the entire lot (Orodho, 2009). He
asserts that in descriptive research 30% of the population may
be required for consideration of the study where the population
is small. The study will purposively select 50 males and females
(26 females; 24 males) will also report coming from intact
families at the time of the data collection process. Random
sampling provides every sample of a given size an equal
probability of being selected.
3.5 Sources of Data
The study will include elementary, middle and high school

34. students that will include females and males. The population
will be chosen from a random sample. Questionnaires and
surveys will be administered to all students. The method that
will be used in this study will be selective. On the other hand,
“information on parental divorce will be obtained via structured
question (Are your parents’ divorce? 1 =no, 2 = yes) in the first
phase of the study. Those whose parents have died or whose
information about parental divorce is incomplete will be
excluded from the study. The goal is that a certain percentage of
the population will report experiencing divorced; 50 males and
females (26 females; 24 males) will also report coming from
intact families at the time of the data collection process. The
format of the instruments will be open-ended questions and the
students will be given complete instructions and directions
before completing the document. The case study design will be
used to gather research using these sources of data. A copy of
the instruments will be included as part of the appendix of the
research proposal once that instrument is developed. More
details will be provided once the document has been created and
obtained.3.6 Validity and Reliability of the Study Instruments
According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), validity is the
degree to which results obtained from the analysis of the data
actually represent the phenomenon under study. To ascertain the
content and criterion validity of the instrument, the researcher
will seek the assistance of other professionals in the field. The
instruments of data collection will be tested to verify both
internal and external validity. The researcher will check
whether they will produce results that will not interfere with an
intervening variable.
Nacmias and Nachmias (2006), state that an instrument is
reliable when it can measure a variable accurately and
consistently and obtain the same results under the same
conditions over time. The idea behind reliability is that any
significant result must be more than a one-off finding and be
inherently repeatable. Other researchers must be able to perform
exactly the same experiment under the same conditions and

35. degenerate the same results. This will reinforce the findings and
ensure that the wider scientific community will accept the
hypothesis. The researcher will use the test retest method at an
interval of one week. The researcher will use the test retest
method to ascertain Reliability, which will help in removing
ambiguity, and hence the reliability of items will be
ensured.Piloting that was carried out ensured validity and
reliability of the instruments.
3.7 Data Collection Procedures
Two groups will be involved: an experimental group and control
groups. Each group will randomly have assign females and
males to either an experimental condition or a control condition.
The population of interest would consist of children of divorced
parents. The main subjects of interest would be the children. To
employ a random sample from the target population, I will need
to know who my target population is, which would be children
of divorce parents and children with continuously married
biological parents. To employ a random sample, first I must
compile a comprehensive and accurate list of my targeted
audience. This list is known as the sample frame. I also need to
know approximately how many subjects are required for the
study. The list would include all members of the targeted
audience. The next thing to do would be to draw a random
sample from that list. I would need to know which names to
select from the list. The names would be chosen at random such
as placing the names in a box and drawing the names from the
box. The data will be collected via structured interviews,
surveys, questionnaires: face to face and observation.
3.8 Data Analysis Procedures
The data analysis approach will be to analyze the quantitative
data collected for the study. The relevant data to be collected
that provides the answer to the research question will be to do a
content analysis of the effect of divorce on children. The
research will be based on a quantitative study, and the data will
be categorized by themes that have been identified in the
content analysis process. The analysis for this study will use

36. questionnaires, surveys, interviews, and observations to
determine topics. Data will be hand-coded. The frequency of the
responses will be used to identify central themes; descriptive
statistics will be used to summarize the data. A frequency
analysis of each factor in the Archival Data of the effect divorce
have on children will be conducted. The objective is to use the
sample to identify themes that can be adapted to best practices
for other inner-city and suburban school within the United
States of America.
3.9 Ethical Considerations
The ethical considerations will go through the Institutional
Review Board process. The identities of the participants in the
study and data will be protected because no names will be used,
and all interviews will be kept confidential. A document of
Informed Consent will be disseminated to all those participating
in the research study with a request for signature confirming
consent prior to such participation. All participants in this study
will be told in details about the study and the nature of the
study.
Participants will get an explanation of their rights and what is
expected of them before committing to the study. Once the
participants agree to participate in the research study, they will
be asked to sign document consisting their participation in the
study. All information and procedures will be explained along
with an informed consent to ensure legal and ethical standards
are probably carried out. All interviews will be addressed with
sensitivity to the interviewee so as not to cause physical or
emotional harm or undue stress. All participants will be the
lecture about the research study not imposing or inflicting and
actual or psychological harm upon them. They will be a talk
about their safety, and treated respectfully.
All research will be conducted in an objective manner, and
differences of opinion will be given fair, unbiased
consideration. The research study will be directed and not be
influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and

37. representing facts to all participants. All the participants will be
given an opportunity to share their feelings and concerns about
the research study without being ridiculed. Research, such as
surveys or observations, will be conducted under the assumption
that findings will be kept anonymous. Subjects will be advised
if research results will be anonymous or not. Choice of
interviewees will be based on what would most benefit
objective research. Interviews will be taped not to depend on
memory or misinterpretation when recording responses. The
right of the participant to withdraw from the study at any time.
References
Beecher, H.K. 1966. “Ethics and Clinical Research.” New
England Journal of
Medicine 274(24):1354–1360.
Berner, R. T. (1992). Parents whose Parents were Divorced.
New York: Haworth Press.
Chiriboga, D. A and Catron, L. S. (1992). Divorce: Crisis,
Challenge or Relief?. S.L.: New York
U.P.
Clarke-Stewart, A and Brentano, C. (2008). Divorce: Causes
and Consequences. New Haven,
Conn: Yale University Press.
Creswell, J. (2009). Research design: Qualitative,

38. Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Cui, M., &Fincham, D.F. (2010). The differential effects of
parental divorce and marital conflict on young adult romantic
relationships. Journal of Personal Relationship. Vol. 17. pp,
331-343. Retrieved on October 31, 2011, from
http://library.gcu.edu
Dictionary.com (2008). Divorce and Transition. Retrieved June
22, 2008, from:
www.dictionary.com
Dykeman, B. (2003). The effects of family conflict resolution
on children's classroom behavior.
Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30(1), 41-46.
Golden, L., & Henderson, P. (2007). Case studies in school
counseling. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Education, Inc.
Hargreaves, M. (1991). Learning under stress: Children of
single parents and the schools.
Metuchen, NJ: Women's Action Alliance and the Scarecrow
Press, Inc.
Hughes, R. (2008). Divorce and children: An interview with
Robert Hughes, Jr., Ph.D. Divorce
and Children. Retrieved September 1, 2015 from: atheath.coml
consumer/ disorders/
childrendivorce.html.
Fisher, B, Alberti, R. E and Satir, V. M. (1999). Rebuilding:
When your Relationship Ends.
Atascadero, California: Impact Publishers.
Guttmann, J. (1993). Divorce in Psychosocial Perspective:
Theory and Research. Hoboken:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Hetherington, E. M, Arasteh, J. D and National Institute of
Child Health and Human
Development (U.S.). (1988). Impact of Divorce, Single
Parenting, and Step-parenting on Children. Hillsdale, N.J:

39. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Jackson, S. L. (2011). Research methods: A modular approach,
second edition. (2 ed., pp. 1-
439). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
Jeynes, W. (2001). The effects of recent parental divorce on
their children's consumption of
alcohol. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30(3), 305-317.
Mustonen, U., Huurree, T., Kiviruusu, O., Haukkala, A., &Aro,
H.(201l). Long- term impact of
parental divorce on intimate relationship quality in adulthood
and the mediating role of
psychosocial resources. Journal of Family Psychology, Vol
25(4). pp, 615-619. Retrieved
on September 17, 2012, from http://library.gcu.edu.
Masci, D. (2001). Children and divorce. CQ Researcher, 11, 25-
40. Retrieved on November 12,
2011. From http://0
library.cqpress.com.www.consuls.org/cqresearcher/
Mugenda O. &Mugenda A. (2003) Research Methods.
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis. Acts Press Nairobi.
Nachmias and Nachmias (2006), Research Methods in the Social
Sciences, 5th Edition, , St. Martin's Press.
Orodho, J.A, (2009) Techniques of Writing Research Proposals
and Reports in Education in Social Sciences. Nairobi; Masola
Publishers.
Patterson, G., DeGarmo, D. &Forgatch, M. (2004). Systematic
changes in families following
prevention trials. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32(6),
621- 633.
Peterson, R. R. (1989). Women, Work, and Divorce. Albany:
State University of New York
Press.
Slife, B. (2006).Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Psychological
Issues. (15thed.) Contemporary
Learning Series/The McGraw- Hill Higher Education
division.

40. Smith, H. (1999). Children, feelings and divorce. London: Free
Association Books.
Trochim, W. M.K. (2006). Deduction & Induction. Research
Methods Knowledge Base Retrieved from
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/dedind.php
VanderValk, I., Spruijt, E., Goede, M., Maas, C., &Meeus, W.
(2005). Family structure and
problem behavior of adolescents and young adults: A growth-
curve study. Journal of
Youth and Adolescence, 34(6), 553-546.
Wallerstein, J. (2005). Growing up in the divorced family.
Clinical Social Work Journal,
33(4),401-417.
Wallerstein, J. S., Lewis, J and Blakeslee, S. (2000). The
Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25
Year Landmark Study. New York: Hyperion.
Appendix A
Variables, Phenomena, and Data Analysis
Table 1
Quantitative Studies
Research Questions (Minimum 2 - add or delete as needed)
Phenomenon (problem) Being Studied
Sources of Data
Analysis Plan
1. What coping strategies, information, education are offer to
support children dealing with divorce?

41. Phenomenon: Identifying coping strategies, resources, to help
school children deal with the impact of divorce.
· Questionnaire
· Survey
· Observations
· Interviews with students
· Research study notes
· Data will be collected, organized and prepared for evaluation
· Coding will generate arguments used to address research
questions about the effect of divorce on children, long term.
2. What coping strategies, information, education are offer to
support children dealing with divorce?
Phenomenon: Identifying the strategies, information and
support to divorced children
· Questionnaire
· Survey
· Observation
· Interviews with students Research study notes
· Data will be collected, organized and prepared for evaluation
· Coding will generate arguments used to address the research
questions.
3. How do these coping strategies, information to support
children dealing with divorce?
Phenomenon: Identifying coping strategies, information to
divorced children
· Questionnaire
· Survey
· Observation
· Interviews with students
· Research study notes
· Data will be collected, organized and prepared for evaluation
· Coding will generate arguments used to address the research
questions.
4.