By: Amara Kamble
Abstract
Divorce between parents and parental separation can have long lasting effects on the mental health of an adolescent. It can influence psychological, neurological and biological processes. In this research paper we will discuss and explore these impacts. We will highlight the increased risk for anxiety, depression and emotional dysregulation in these adolescents, and we will look at the situation from a neurological perspective in which we see alterations in brain structures, particularly in the prefrontal cortex which control the emotional regulation of the adolescent and stress responses, we will also highlight the numerous biological changes that can occur, including heightened cortisol levels, associated with stress. We will review coping mechanisms such as therapy, social support and resilience building interventions to mitigate the aforementioned impacts. In this study, we will emphasize the requirement for better understanding of the adolescent experience during parental separation and the long-term effects that it can have on mental health.
Keywords: parental divorce, separation, mental health, adolescent, mental health, neurobiology, psychological impact, stress, response, coping mechanism
Introduction
Divorce and separation between parents can be a significant stress in the life of an adolescent, it can have profound implications for the child’s mental health. We have seen a trend of an increasing rate of divorce, which makes it very important to understand how this experience can shape the development of adolescents. Teens who witness parental separation become more vulnerable to psychological distress. This paper hopes to explore the consequences of parental divorce and separation on teen mental health and its various neurological, biological and psychological impacts. Additionally, we will also explore the coping mechanisms that can be used to mitigate these effects.
Psychological impacts
Anxiety and emotional dysregulation
The most common psychological impact of parental separation is emotional dysregulation, which can lead to depression, heightened anxiety and internalizing maladaptive behavior. Children may feel trapped among the conflicts going on between their parental figures which can create high levels of stress and emotional insecurity. According to studies, the children of divorced parents are more likely to show depressive symptoms as compared to children who come from regular families (Strohschein, 2012). Children can often feel a sense of guilt and abandonment or helplessness which leads to emotional instability and difficulties in forming secure relationships later in their life (Amato, 2010). The long-term psychological impacts can include emotional challenges and difficulty in social functioning, which can add to issues in managing relationships as adults.
Neurological impacts
function and brain structure. The brain of an adolescent is extremely sensitive to stress and stressful environments. It is the job of the parental figure to provide a safe and stable environment for an adolescent. Parental separation can influence the development of certain regions in the brain which are involved in processing emotions and stress responses, such as the prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making and regulation of emotions, and the amygdala which controls the fight or flight response, which is a natural response to chronic stress (Perlman et al., 2017). Research using neuroimaging found that adolescents that come from homes with separated parents can exhibit altered activity in certain regions of the brain, which can contribute to difficulties in emotional regulation and increased vulnerability to mental health disorders.
Cortisol levels and stress response
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulates the stress response in the human body. When an adolescent experiences the effects of parental divorce, this axis becomes dysregulated. There is an elevation in cortisol levels that is found during and after the parental separation. This can be an indicator of prolonged stress. (Luecken et al., 2013). Repeated stress can damage the child’s ability to cope with future stressors and can make the child more susceptible to depressive disorders and anxiety.
Coping mechanisms
Social support and therapy
Social support and therapy are coping mechanisms that can be crucial to explore and navigate the emotional damage following parental divorce. Therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices can be very effective in the reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms in children. (Sandler et al., 2016). Therapy can provide a safe space for adolescence to not only express their emotions but also to process changes in their family structure.
Resilience building
Therapy is an intervention that is aimed at fostering resilience and can help reduce the long term psychological impacts of divorce. Resilience-building programs can focus on emotional regulation and stress management alongside problem solving skills which can empower adolescents to adapt to life changes. Research shows that adolescents who often engage in these programs are less likely to struggle with depression and anxiety, and are more likely to develop healthy coping mechanisms (hetherington & Stanley-Hagan, 1999).
Conclusion
Parental separation and divorce can pose a significant challenge for adolescent development. It can cause neurological imbalances and biological responses and has psychological impacts. The emotional toll is substantial, but the neurological and biological stress responses can further compound, making the child more susceptible to mental health disorders. However, the use of appropriate coping mechanisms such as therapy and social support can help the child explore these challenges and grow more resilient towards them. A lot more research is needed to understand the long-term implications of parental divorce on adolescents and to develop better and more effective interventions.
References
Amato, P. R. (2010). Research on Divorce: Continuing Trends and New Developments. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 650-666. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00723.x. Accessed on September 19th. Hetherington, E. M., & Stanley-Hagan, M. (1999). The Adjustment of Children with Divorced Parents: A Risk and Resiliency Perspective. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40(1), 129-140.
ccessed on September 19th. Luecken, L. J., Kraft, A., Appelhans, B. M., & Enders, C. (2013). Parental Divorce and Cortisol in Young Adulthood: The Moderating Role of Family Relationships. Psychosomatic Medicine, 75(3), 292-299. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e31828c9e02.
Accessed on September 19th. Perlman, S. B., Hein, T. C., & Stepp, S. D. (2017). Emotional Reactivity and Regulation in Adolescents: Transdiagnostic Features of Neuroscience Findings. Cognitive, Af ective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 17(3), 688-697. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-017-0515-7.
Accessed on September 19th. Sandler, I., Tein, J. Y., Mehta, P., Wolchik, S., & Ayers, T. S. (2016). Coping Efficacy and Psychological Problems of Children of Divorce. Child Development, 81(2), 642-658. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01427.x.
Accessed on September 19th Strohschein, L. (2012). Parental Divorce and Child Mental Health Trajectories. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(5), 1286-1300. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00217.x.
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