Divorce Attorney in Fort Lauderdale

New Studies Examine How Divorce Impacts Children’s Mental Health

Many couples end up staying together because they mistakenly believe that doing so is in their children’s best interests. However, the results of new studies both in the United States and abroad show that children who spend time with both parents after divorce are no more likely to suffer from mental health problems than those children whose parents remain living together.

The Stockholm University Study

In a recent Stockholm University research study, Swedish researchers examined more than 150,000 Swedish schoolchildren in order to determine how much of an impact a divorce had on their mental health. These researchers concluded that there was no real difference in the mental health of children whose parents divorced, as opposed to that of children whose parents remained married or living together. Essentially, divorced parents who focus on providing sensitive parenting and predictability in children’s routines were just as successful in raising their children as those who stayed together, at least from a mental health perspective. Furthermore, the researchers found that children who spent time living with each parent had better mental health than those who lived solely with a single parent.

Swedish Findings Support British and American Studies

Recently, the University College London published findings that were similar to the Swedish study results. The British study concluded that children raised by a single parent were three times as likely to suffer from mental problems, as opposed to those children who shared time with two parents, even if in two different households. Nearly 400,000 children in Britain who are under the age of 16 spend time with parents who live in two different households. Likewise, a Pennsylvania State University study resulted in a finding that even when a child saw no economic advantage from living in two different households – one with each parent – they had better emotional health than children who lived only with one parent and had little or no contact with the other parent.

Call a Divorce Attorney in Fort Lauderdale for Legal Advice

As these studies reveal, it is not necessary for you to remain in an unhappy marriage in order to preserve your child’s mental health. On the contrary, especially when you can work out an effective shared parenting plan that allows your child to spend ample time with each parent, you may be ensuring that your child has a better chance of remaining emotionally healthy. Due to the complexities of addressing all issues related to your divorce, including parenting time, you should always consult with an experienced Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney first. Contact Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices, LLC, today and learn how we can assist you with all of your divorce and family law needs.