Mothers and fathers are important resources for their children. They give love, provide emotional support and teach their children skills and knowledge about life, as well as serve as role models. The break up of the family unit through divorce can be a heart wrenching experience for children. Divorce can adversely affect a child, from their behavior, school, employment, relationships, and future marriage. Studies regarding teenage and adult females, parental divorce has been associated with lower self esteem, promiscuity and greater delinquent behaviors, as well as, difficulty maintaining long-term relationships.
Girls experience the emotional loss of the father directly and personally.
They believe it is a direct rejection of them. Many girls attribute this rejection to not being pretty enough, affectionate enough, athletic enough, smart enough, etc. On a long-term study of up to 25 years later, it was shown that when the parents first got divorced, the children reported feeling lonely, ashamed, or terrified of abandonment. In teens, half of the children became involved in alcohol and drugs. But caregivers can be alert for signs that the child is upset or depressed.