Although most of these young adults had arrived at the understanding that the divorce had been a wise de cision, many of them remained critical of both parents for having made the mistake of a misguided marriage. They were especially critical of their parents for not having rectified the mistake before the children were born.
Many of these youngsters describe themselves as having emerged stronger and more independent as a consequence of their parents’ divorce. Yet there was a bittersweet quality to their statements.
3. Physically, these participants reported poorer physical health than children from intact families.
4. Emotionally, they indicated persistent problems with the following:
• Fears of betrayal, abandonment, loss, and rejec tion.
• Rising anxiety in late teens and early 20s—feel- ings and memories about their parents’ divorce arise with new intensity as they enter adulthood.
• Life-long vulnerability to the experience of loss. • Anger, resentment, and hostility.
• A reduction in psychological well-being.
• Depression in young adulthood.
• Low life satisfaction.
5. Socially, the children’s relationships in later life were affected as follows:
• Divorcing parents apparently set the stage for children’s poor relationships.
• Reduction in the ability to develop and maintain supportive friendships and dating relationships.
• Children of divorce are more likely themselves to divorce as adults.
• Earlier sexual intercourse.
• Delinquent behaviors.
• Daughters of divorce are more likely to:
—Marry and have children early —Give birth before marriage —Divorce
• Fear of repeating his or her parents’ failure to maintain a loving relationship.
• Fear of commitment and intimacy.
• Less trust in future spouse.
• Reduction of inhibitions toward divorce as a solu
tion for marital difficulties.
• Lower socioeconomic status.
• In relationship to their parents, adult children of
divorce: