THE DIVORCE PROCESS AND YOUNG CHILDRENS WELL-BEING - A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

We take a prospective approach to examine the consequences of marital disruption for children's behavior problems and academic achievement u sing NLSY Child Supplement data. The analysis begins with assessments of 1,123 children whose parents' marriages are intact in 1986. By 1988 children fall into either disrupted or intact groups and their behavi or and achievement are reassessed. Results show that, even before pred isruption characteristics are introduced in our models, there is littl e effect of marital dissolution on girls. We find that negative effect s of family disruption on the behavior problems scores of boys are nor reduced when prior family characteristics are controlled. In addition , the effect of disruption on boys' behavior problems can be partially attributed to downward mobility following the disruption.