The explanation given for the gender difference has to do with custody issues, as mothers usually retain custody" (Greenwood, 2012). Because of this, children (especially girls) of divorces parents do not have good relationships with their fathers, or have "daddy issues," which often leads to promiscuity. .
Children of divorced parents tend to have a negative view on relationships. According to Campbell, "Witnessing the failure of their parents' marriage causes adult children to question their own relationships. Feelings of insecurity and loss of confidence in long-term commitment arise" (Sumner, 2013). According to Duran-Aydintug, children of divorced parents may also worry more about future relationships than children of parents who stayed married (Sumner, 2013). These feelings may lead to the child living a life of singlehood (Sumner, 2013). Also, according to Kozuch and Cooney, adult children with divorced parents are more likely to move in someone before getting married (Sumner, 2013), which can lead to many other problems. Children of divorced parents tend to have significantly worse mental health than children of married parents. "Marital conflict is associated with increased anxiety and depression, and poorer overall social and academic adjustment in children" (Moses, 2013). Also, studies have "reported higher levels of aggression and antisocial behavior among children whose parents later divorced compared to children whose parents remain married" (Strohschein, 2012). "As the marital relationship deteriorates, interactions between family members can become increasingly fractious and disparaging, taking their toll on the mental health of parents and children" (Strohschein, 2012). .
When preschool-aged children's parents get a divorce, they will often start to blame himself, viewing it as the consequence of their own misbehavior.
