Canberra, Wednesday 16 January 2002

Lifting the lid on trauma faced by the children of divorce

A new book, Children in Changing Families: Life After Parental Separation, by ANU academic Dr Bryan Rodgers and Dr Jan Pryor has just been released in Australia (initially available in the UK). It reveals children with separated and divorced parents are more likely to experience social, physical and psychological problems in childhood and adulthood. Children living in separated families are twice as likely to suffer behavioural problems, substance abuse, difficulties at school, depression and delinquency unless children are assisted to cope with family breakdown and blending.

Dr Rodgers said, "relationships before and after a separation affect children because often there is a risk of child abuse, ongoing tension and conflict, poverty, parental alcohol and substance abuse and mental illness such as depression".

At a time when divorce and de facto marriage relationships are at historically high rates, this book provides insights into why some children survive change in families better than others.

Dr Rodgers and Dr Pryor's research and analysis documents demographic change across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, outlining known outcomes for children affected by parental separation and step-family formation (blended families). The book details children's own perceptions of family change, what happens when family transition occurs, children's experience in step-families and the new focus on the involvement of fathers in children's lives.

"There are implications for how we take responsibility for children as parents and as a community because unstable relationships between parents are now common. There are very positive changes that can be undertaken to reorganise at many levels; in the household, school, neighbourhood, and financial changes…the risk posed to children by family instability urgently needs to be addressed," said Dr Rodgers.

"In the book we specifically consider fathers in families, we singled them out rather than mothers because it is only comparatively recently that the role of fathers in children's lives beyond that of 'providers' has been taken seriously. It seemed important to document the research findings about fathers and children because it is a topic of intense speculation and controversy and the debate needs to be better informed."

Interview contact: Dr Bryan Rodgers on 02 6125 0399 or 02 6125 2741 at the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research. Genevieve Turville on 02 6125 5575 or 02 6125 6125 (m) at ANU Public Affairs

04/2002

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The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002