About half the marriages in our lifetime will end in divorce. Divorce takes a toll on the husband and wife as well as the family dynamic. As a result, children of unhappily wed couples often show signs of turmoil, emotional detachment and despair. The Center for Marriages and Families at the Institute for American Values indicates that divorce rates are higher in black households, and that divorce is affecting more black children, than any other ethnic group.
Here are just a few different ways that divorce impacts black youth:
Sign # 1 – Children from broken homes are more likely to get divorced themselves as adults.
According to Divorce360.com, children growing up in a broken marriage, are two times more likely to divorce later on in life than children who came from households that did not endure a divorce.
Sign #2 – Divorces can lead to a poor academic standing in school.
In order for children and adolescents to thrive in a learning environment, their home life should be as stable as possible. A bitter breakup or divorce can lead to your child having trouble in school, which could result in poor grades and lack of direction. According to the center.americanvalues.org, studies have shown that divorces have a negative impact on a black child’s academic standing, grades and high school retention rate.
Sign #3 – Children and adolescents of divorces can exhibit more foul behavior and language than their peers.
You felt you’ve raised your children to be well-mannered and well-adjusted, yet personal hardships run their course. They don’t seem to bounce back to that fun-loving, personable exterior they used to have because the divorce has altered their mood all together. They’re depressed, stealing from others, getting involved in drugs or fights and disrespecting authority figures. According to the center.americanvalues.org, children from divorced households can exhibit more foul behavior and language than kids from non-divorced families.
Sign#4 – Parents are detached from their children.
Not only do divorces tear apart a husband and wife, they can also alienate the children. From years of conflict in the marriage and after, one or both parents can grow apathetic from all the bickering and turmoil. It can impair the relationship between a parent and child and it can affect the child’s overall psychological and social functions. According to the center.americanvalues.org, children who are impacted by divorce are more likely to receive mental health counseling. Roughly 25 percent of youth from divorced families receive treatment as opposed to 10 to 12 percent in two-parent households.
Sign #5 – A black child is three times more likely to come from out of wedlock births than a white child.
According to the U.S. Census, African-Americans are least likely to come from a married household. A black child is three times more likely to come from an out-of-wedlock birth than a white child. They will spend six years in a two-parent household, compared to 14 years for a white child.
Sign #6 – A marriage gap exists with African-Americans, which damages educational and financial prospects for black children.
According to the healthymarriageinfo.org, African-Americans are more likely than any other ethnic group to raise children in female-headed households. A single-income household is not as financially flush as a two-income household and therefore children in single-parent homes have reduced access to abundant financial and educational resources.
Sign #7 – Divorce can affect a child’s physical and mental health status.
Divorce can lead to a series of physical and mental health issues. According to blackwomenshealth.com, children of divorce sometimes fall victim to poor health, violence, crime and lack of self-esteem.
