Divorce greatly affects children in higher income families

When parents get a divorce, they often wonder how that divorce will affect the children. Information from research done at the University of Chicago and Georgetown University sheds some light on how a family's economic status might affect the way a child is affected by the divorce. Parents in Virginia who have already divorced and those considering divorce might find this research interesting.

The research, which used data from a survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics starting in 1979, found that children of families who are considered to be in low or moderate income brackets aren't affected by divorce as much as children who are in high-income families. Negative behaviors, such as bullying and aggression, as well as internalizing behaviors like low self esteem, were considered in the research.

Researchers theorized that in low and medium income brackets, divorce and other changes in household structure are more common than in higher income brackets. Additionally, higher income families usually count on the father for monetary support, which can make it very difficult if he is the one who leaves the home when a marriage goes sour.

The loss of the other parent's income is more likely to affect the child in a more profound way in a higher income family. If the mother is stressed because of the financial challenges of trying to live without a second income, the stress often goes down to the children.

Taking the children's feelings into consideration usually isn't enough to stop a divorce from happening. It is, however, a reason for parents who are considering a divorce to try to help the children learn to cope with the divorce. One thing parents can do to lessen stress is to make sure they understand everything they can about the divorce process so they can help the children to understand.

Our attorneys can assist with any legal needs that may arise from a divorce, including divorce litigation itself, asset division, and name changes. Contact our attorneys today for legal aid.

Source: Huffington Post, "Divorce Hits Children In Higher-Income Families The Hardest, Study Says" Rebecca Adams, Sep. 15, 2014