ents, would be they start engaging in sexual activity sooner, are more likely to have children out of wedlock, are less likely to marry, and if they marry, are more likely to get divorced. They are likelier to abuse drugs, turn to crime, and commit suicide (Leo 2000). These are all unfortunate incidences that could have been lessened or even prevented. When Henslin stated that the family consists of two or more people, this is still true for after the divorce. Henslin gives great points when helping children adjust to divorce. The adjustment is better if (1) both parents show understanding and affection; (2) the child lives with a parent who is making a good adjustment; (3) family routines are consistent; (4) the family has adequate money for its needs; and (5) that the child lives with a parent of the same sex (466). When the parents show love and affection toward the children, their welfare is better in the long run. These examples are only of the physical and emotional changes. Let’s take a look at more emotional changes that occur.These children are torn between their parent. They were never told to make a choice between one or the other before and they are having a hard time doing that now. “Studies show that these children have more hostility, anxiety, and nightmares, and they don’t do as well in school” (Henslin 466). Parents tend to forget that their children are going through the same emotional roller coaster that they are. When they realize why the children are acting a certain way, it is too late to fix the damage. Later on in life, these children are inclined to reject their parents because of this damage brought on them. 3Findings from longitudinal research indicate that although parent-child conflict might dissipate over time, adult children separated families report feeling less affection for their parents, spending less time with them, and engaging in fewer intergenerational excha...
