Acrimonious divorces make children ‘twice as likely to get ill’

THE stress of parents divorcing makes children twice as likely to develop mental and physical conditions, research reveals.

It is not the divorce that is the problem but the way it is handled.

Rowing couples cause children stress, which can trigger disease.

Maria Seijo Martinez at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, said: “Poor handling involves very high levels of interparental conflict, which makes it very difficult to maintain a good relationship. If children are exposed to these family situations for prolonged periods they often experience toxic stress.”

The findings, in the European Journal of Education and Psychology, add to previous evidence that couples who split up affect the wellbeing of children.

Genital, urinary, stomach and intestinal infections, skin diseases and brain disorders were all about twice as likely. They showed divorce causes psychological and social stress, having a major impact on the physical and emotional health of all the family. Other relatives are also sometimes affected.

Social psychology student Ms Martinez said: “It’s not the breakup itself that has negative effects on the children, but poor handling of the situation by the parents.”

The research included families where the parents were together or divorced, with 467 boys and girls aged between two and 18 studied. Experts believe physical, psycho-emotional and behavioural issues are linked mainly to “inadequate management” of the break-up.

Conflict, a lack of co-parenting or violence within the family increase the impact on child adjustment.

Ms Martinez says this causes intense, prolonged activation of the body’s stress response, which causes illness.

Five years ago a US study found adversity alone does not predict bad health in children. An absence of good relationships offering protection and support is the issue.

Ms Martinez said: “We need to support families in order to reduce these consequences.

“Professionals in direct contact with children, such as primary care workers or school staff, have a role in reducing toxic stress, being in a position to design and implement new interventions oriented towards protection and prevention.”