Annotated Bibliography for Children and Divorce

With up to fifty percent of marriages ending in divorce, a growing number of married couples are choosing to end their marriages. Given the high rate of divorce among couples, it is imperative that society fully understands the impact of divorce on children. As many psychologists have expressed concerns regarding the adverse impacts of divorce on children, it is imperative that we understand how to best protect children from any potentially adverse effects stemming from the divorce. When handled correctly, divorce can actually translate into a positive experience. With proper education and guidance, children of divorce can be raised in well-adjusted and stable environments. Divorce also does not have to burden the court system or taxpayers, but we as a society need to reform certain aspects of the divorce process in an effort to facilitate the attainment of this goal.

Chisholm, P. (1994). Paying for the children of divorce. Maclean’s. 107.2 (Jan 10, 1994): 36-37.

This article written by Patricia Chisholm appeared in Maclean’s Magazine. Chisholm discusses the child support proceedings in Canada, and the fallout for the families that ensues. This is a credible source, as Macclean’s is a recognized magazine, and Chisholm is a Senior Writer for the magazine who specializes in social and family issues. Although the article is from 1994, the underlying subject matter of the article has not changed over time.

The information found in this article will bolster the arguments that divorce, when handled incorrectly, creates negative feelings between separated parents as one parent demands child support and (all too often) the other parent refuses to pay it. Divorce then burdens the court system, as the courts are required to enforce child support payments. Lastly, the article addresses how the negative feelings impact families, including the children of divorced or divorcing parents. The article provides evidence for two proposed courses of action for the paper: (1) that divorce burdens the court system and needs to be reformed; and (2) proper handling of divorce (such as acknowledging the social problem) may lead to a better outcome for everyone.

Guthman, L., and Robles-Pina, R. (n.d.). Demographic and educational influences on the self-esteem of adolescents from divorced and intact families in rural areas. Retrieved from http://www.shsu.edu/piic/summer2002/Guthman.htm.

This article was written by Lindsey R. Guthman and Dr. Rebecca A. Robles-Pina for Sa Huston State University. Guthman and Robles-Pina discuss the impact of divorce on children, particularly how divorce affects their self-esteem and social skills. The article is credible, as Guthrie is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Counseling (with an area of focus on divorce), and is working towards licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Dr. Robles-Pina is an assistant professor at the University in the Department of educational Leadership and Counseling. While the actual article is undated, it appears to be authored during the summer of 2002, making the information still relevant and timely.

The information in this article will bolster the argument that divorce may have negative impacts on children. While the study did not ultimately find significant differences between children from divorced families versus intact families, the study was admittedly limited. However, the article is important because it identifies several areas of concern for parents when evaluating their children’s mental health and level of adjustment, post-divorce. The article also provides a valuable suggestion that children of divorced families participate in extracurricular activities. This can be used as an example in the paper to help children adjust to divorce.

Irvin, M. (30 October 2012). 32 shocking divorce statistics. Retrieved from http://www.mckinleyirvin.com/blog/divorce/32-shocking-divorce-statistics/.

This article published by McKinley Irvin provides “shocking” divorce statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau findings and other credible sources. The article includes statistics from the U.S., as well as general facts on divorce. Also included in the article are statistics on the likelihood of divorce and divorce and children. McKinley Irvin is a law firm in the United States and Canada, and publishes a family law blog, making the source credible. The statistics are relatively recent -- published on October 30, 2012 -- making them timely.

The source will be used in the paper to provide attention-getting data for the introduction, as well as other statistical data to bolster the arguments regarding the prevalence of divorce in married couples.

Live Science. (02 June 2011). Divorce plagues kids’ social, academic lives for years. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/06/02/divorce-plagues-kids-social-academic-lives-for-years/.

This article published by Live Science and published on Fox News provides information regarding the negative impact of divorce on children. The article is important because it is the first-long term study regarding the effects on the children of divorce's academic performance. The article is credible because the findings were part of a research study. Because the study was completed in 2011, it is also timely.

This article will be used in the paper to illustrate the potential effects of divorce on children. It will also support the thesis that children divorce may prove to be a positive thing for families, especially for those children whose parents’ divorce is not marked by conflict. It also bolsters the argument that children involved in legal battles fare worse than children who do not.

Willett, B. (2011, May 18). The most pioneering divorce reform effort in 40 years. The Huffington Post. retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beverly-willett/the-most-pioneering-divor_b_863024.html.

This article authored by Beverly Willett reviews a national organization -- The Coalition for Divorce Reform – created to reform divorce laws and provide the public with education regarding divorce. It also reviews the Parental Divorce Reduction Act, which is legislation requiring divorcing parents to complete marriage education classes before they may file for divorce. The article is credible because Willett is the Co-Chair of the Coalition, and especially versed in the organization’s activities, as well as the legislation. The article is also timely because it was authored in 2011, following creation of the coalition.

Information from the article will be used to will support the ideas in the thesis that divorce proceedings cost taxpayers tens of billions of taxpayer dollars each year. It also supports the argument that children of divorce suffer emotionally. Lastly, the article provides information regarding steps parents may take to improve interpersonal relationships, even if those marriages still result in divorce. A less acrimonious relationship can only help the families in the long run.