ma of divorce stresses the human mind and body as much and sometimes more than the loss of a spouse through death, which lowers the immune system’s defenses to physical disease. Therefore it is no wonder that three separate studies found higher rates of infectious disease and cancer among persons undergoing marital disruption. (Larson and Larson) Another ramification of unwanted divorce, which is often overlooked, is the effect of parental separation upon children. Long-term studies indicate that for children, divorce produces emotional trauma that often endures for life. Further intensifying the impact of divorce in our culture is the fact that more than one million children each year experience the breakup of their families. Unwanted divorce means the disintegration of a child’s fundamental security base his family which can be terribly traumatic, not only for the children, but for the parents as well, especially if one of them wanted to save the marriage. These children often experience a sense of profound rejection, abandonment, fear, and anger. Many even feel guilty, somehow holding themselves responsible for their parent’s divorce. Children from disrupted households are more likely to be involved in crime, given that criminal behavior is more strongly tied to disrupted family structure than even income level. Other studies also indicate a relationship between divorce and teen suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and poor school performance. This emotional suffering experienced by the children of a shattered marriage can exact a terrible emotional toll on the parent who didn’t want the divorce, for, unlike when a mother or father dies, the children often blame one or both parents for a divorce. When a parent dies, the child or children naturally bond even more closely with the surviving parent. But when a divorce occurs, relationships between parents and children can be strained and even br...
