Impact of Parental Divorce on Adolescents: Mental Health and Educational Outcomes

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21295745

Jaya and Gobind (Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana)

This study examines the academic, psychological, and behavioural effects of parental divorce on adolescents, with a particular focus on the role of family environment and parentchild relationships. As divorce becomes increasingly normalized in societies such as India, it is important to understand it not as a singular event but as a complex, on-going process that shapes adolescent development. Drawing on cross-national research, this paper synthesizes evidence on how parental separation influences educational outcomes, including grade point average, school dropout rates, and long-term educational attainment, as well as mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and behavioural problems. The findings indicate that parental divorce is associated with short-term academic disruption, increased risk of emotional distress, and greater likelihood of externalizing behaviours (Lairana & Wandamar, 2023). However, these effects are not uniform and are strongly moderated by contextual factors such as socioeconomic status, welfare systems, cultural norms, and the level of inter-parental conflict. Research suggests that economic hardship and prolonged parental conflict are key mechanisms driving negative outcomes, while supportive family relationships, particularly warm and communicative parentchild interactions, serve as important protective factors.