Complex sentence: Research has founded that because of these legal structures children themselves feel powerless and with little control over their own lives, and believe that the power of this structure, as opposed to their age or developmental ability, causes them to be vulnerable.
Split into simpler sentences: Research has founded that because of this legal structure children themselves feel powerless and with little control over their own lives. They believe that the power of this structure, as opposed to their age or developmental ability, causes them to be vulnerable.