The effects of divorce on children have become an essential family issue to the society for many years. The rate of divorce in the United States has soared over the past 30 years and is still rising among many families. It is estimated that the odds of divorce occurring in a household before children are grown up is 50:50. The big question is, what are the changes in the children? Over the last 25 years, scientists have documented the influences that divorce has on children both psychologically and in terms of the children's social adjustment. Social and psychological well being includes aspects of personal adjustment, self-concept, interpersonal relationships, antisocial behavior, and cognitive functioning. Personal adjustment includes self-control, leadership, responsibility, independence, achievement orientation, aggressiveness, and gender-role orientation. There are many factors that influence the children's effects. Such variables include the child's perception of the relationship, the age of the child, the gender of the child, family socioeconomic status, child's social competence prior to the divorce, and outside support. Depending on the background of the child, divorce may or may not have a huge impact on their lives. Children that are in households without two biological parents usually display lower levels of well being than their counterparts in intact nuclear families. The effects of youthful well being are especially acute when the cause of parental absence is marital separation, divorce, or desertion. After a divorce, there are significant changes in family composition, parent-child interaction, discipline, and socioeconomic conditions, and emotional reactions from both the parents and the children. .
Children at a young age may not understand what a divorce is. For example, toddlers and preschoolers may not understand. Some school age children understand what divorce is and some may not know.