Child development concepts and processes

¶ … Children

The Psychological Affects of Remarriage on Young Children

Understandably, the effects of divorce on children have been long studied by psychologists and others concerned with child welfare. In fact, Jeynes (1998) notes that, "by the end of the 1980s, few researchers questioned the notion that parental divorce had a negative impact on the psychological impact and well being and the scholastic performance of children" (p.25). The subject of the effects of remarriage on children, however, wasnot tested with such voracity because remarriage was generally thought to be beneficial to children, as it was believed to provide stability, another role model, financial benefits, and relief to the single parent (Jeynes 1998, p. 23). These views were furthered by the fact that studies before the 1980s consisted of several inadequacies, including incorrect samples.

Thus, the current body of literature on the topic is widely varied. Some scholars believe that children from remarried families have psychologically and academically worse of than children of biological two-parent families, while a minority of these scholars argue that these factors make little difference. Evidence for both positions exist. Some studies have found that students in a reconstructed home do better academically, which seems to suggest that the new family arrangement adds stability to the home. Others, however, have argued that children do not become familiar with the new spouse, seeing him or her as a stranger, which might suggest that stress is furthered rather than reduced in these children. According to Jeynes (1998), tension between biological parents can seriously impact the child, as can the fact that new, unstable marriages are likely to end in divorce (p. 25). Because of this tension and stress Jeynes (1998) points out that children can become angry, aggressive, and unhappy (p. 26). Thus, the body of literature regarding the effects of remarriage on children varies widely. One fact, however, remains. Divorce and remarriage causes stress in children, and this stress can explain many of the negative affects that they receive after remarriage. Remarriage, in some cases, however, also brings stability, which can explain the positive affects, such as increased academic achievement, that these children exemplified.