<\/p>\n
Divorce hits men and women much harder if they are parents\u2014particularly of younger children\u2014than if they are childless, according to our research. These findings suggest that we could find new ways to help protect children from the trauma of divorce.<\/p>\n
Experts have tended to conclude that divorce per se<\/em> damages children. Our research identifies problems that are particular to parental divorces\u2014but largely absent in childless divorces\u2014and that may explain some of these harmful effects on children. These issues largely relate to money and family relationships. Policy-makers and practitioners should consider whether such problems could be alleviated for parents whose marriages break up.<\/p>\n Our findings hold out the possibility that children might do far better after divorce if their parents\u2019 individual suffering\u2014and the issues that seem to underlie it\u2014could be minimized so the divorce is more like that experienced by childless couples. In short, if we looked after divorcing parents better, their children might suffer less harm.<\/p>\n