There are numerous factors which effect how children are able to cope with divorce. Some of those factors we can influence through our own actions, others we may have no control over. Some researchers have estimated that the period of adjustment for families can range anywhere from one to three years sometimes as long as five, depending on the circumstances surrounding the divorce. According to Edward Teyber in Helping Children Cope with Divorce, divorce is a process through which families experience various stages of adjustment. Initially, there is a stage of disruption which is usually the most painful for parents and children.
Parents are often emotionally unavailable due to their own pain and confusion.
Also, this is a time when children are more likely to be exposed to parental conflict. During the second stage, which is noted as a transitional period, parents begin to reorganize and make changes in within their lives. Through this stage Teyber suggests that the adjustment of children will improve if parents are able to maintain stability and minimize change. The third stage is characterized by parents and children experiencing a renewed sense of security and stability. The development of more stable transitions between households occurs and parents are capable of providing children with continuity.