How you divorce can affect Louisiana children’s health

There’s no question that divorce can take a toll on all individuals involved. Soon-to-be ex-spouses can face financial losses and experience anger and frustration at the process, and they may even see their time with their children limited. But children, too, are affected by divorce, and perhaps more so than we care to think.

According to a recent study out of Spain, children of separated and divorced parents are about twice as likely to experience issues related to their gastrointestinal, dermatological, genitourinary, and neurological systems. Researchers believe that the onset of conditions affecting these systems are likely related to stress held by children who experience divorce.

However, it isn’t the divorce process itself that causes this toxic stress. Instead, researchers suggest that the way divorce is handled can be the key to how marriage dissolution affects a child. Parents who are unable to communicate and are often in conflict can expose their children witness to verbal and emotional abuse that can scar them for life. For this reason, and so many others, Louisiana parents need to carefully consider how best to end their marriage so that they protect their legal rights, but also their children’s emotional well-being.

Whether an individual decides to pursue a collaborative divorce, divorce mediation, or litigation, he or she needs to carefully plan every aspect of the marriage dissolution. This is a way to help ensure that family law matters like property division, child custody, and child support turn out as favorable as possible under the circumstances. Also, though, planning can help alleviate the stress placed on a parent and his or her children, thereby making the transition to post-divorce life as smooth and safe as possible.

Source: New York Daily News, “Kids of divorce twice as at risk for certain health issues: study,” Joe Dziemianowicz, May 24, 2017