On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Friday, August 30, 2019.
Across Illinois, older couples are deciding to divorce at later ages. However, even older divorcing parents should understand that their adult children will be impacted by a split. This is especially important because the impact of divorce on adult children tends to be grossly underestimated.
Very Well Family takes a look at the psychological impact of divorce on younger children. This area of study has a wealth of research behind it. It is generally agreed upon that parents should approach the topic of an impending divorce together, ensuring the child understands they are not at fault. Children should be left out of any squabbles. Typically, younger children tend to bounce back from divorces more fully as long as they have the proper treatment and therapy offered to them in the aftermath.
The New York Times, on the other hand, has an article discussing how one is never too old to suffer from the negative impact of a parent’s divorce. Compared to younger children, there is not a lot of research on how it affects adult children. Also, because of their adulthood, many divorcing parents figure that it is okay to unload emotional and mental burdens on their older children because they are “old enough to handle it”. Divorce may actually be more traumatic to adult children, as they tend to be more set in their ways, having lived with their current family dynamic for many years.
As older parents go through divorce, it can be important to include their adult children in the recovery process. Understanding how divorce affects all family members can be a step toward healing in and of itself.
