Delayed parental divorce: How much do children benefit?

This study compares children who experienced divorce in childhood with thos e who were young adults when their parents divorced to differentiate betwee n long-term effects of divorce resulting from preexisting factors, includin g the child's behavioral problems and psychological status as well as the f amily's economic circumstances, and those resulting from divorce itself We used National Child Development Study data on 11,409 British children born in 1958 and followed up until age 33. Children's long-term welfare appears to be linked both to conditions preceding and following the divorce event. The results point to some limitations of existing studies on divorce and su ggest caution in drawing conclusions about average effects of divorce. The impact of divorce appears to be a complex blend of selection and socializat ion.