Marriage and The Family, vol.61 states that there is strong evidence that suggest that divorced mothers tend to make fewer demands on children and utilize less effective disciplinary strategies than married mothers. This in turn can affect the conduct of a child while in school. The child may begin to be disruptive and cause problems like fighting, vandalism, and other difficult behaviors that may just be used to get attention from a non-responsive parent. Because of a less active parent, the household routines are frequently interrupted resulting in irregular meal and bedtimes (Journal of Marriage and the Family vol. 57 pg. 802). This in turn can play a major factor in the health of a child and another reason for disruptive behavior. .
While the above factors of disruptive behavior of a child are evident, Robert Hughes, Jr. of Ohio State University states that the adjustment and development of a child in divorce reflects on the capabilities of parental adjustment and competence. How the child reacts to divorce is related to the skills of parenting generated by both the mother and the father before divorce. Conflict after divorce is a key role in the behavior of a child. In my own experience as a child of divorce, I was able to develop without any behavioral problems because I observed my parents getting along without any abnormal or disruptive behavior between them. Seeing this type of interaction between parents can help a child to learn how to resolve a conflict and grow to become a mature adult.
Another important factor that can affect the way a child adapts to divorce is the quality of their relationship with each of their parents before the divorce (Corcoran). Dr. Kathleen O"Connell Corcoran says that the more secure they are in their relationship with their parents, the higher the changes they will adapt well to various time sharing schedules and experience security and fulfillment in their intimate relationships in adulthood.