A.S. Ellen, J.Thompson, D.Gaysina. (2017) Journal of Affective Disorders, 218, 105-114.
This paper describes a meta-analysis of research on the effect of divorce on children’s mood states since 1980.
Children of separating parents aren’t necessarily feeling worse these days compared to 30 years ago, but we are now (thankfully) recognising their needs and talking about them more.
Parental divorce is associated with higher risk of depression but not anxiety in adult offspring.
There has been no significant change in this pattern over the last 30 years, suggesting that divorce is affecting children in the same way now as it did a generation ago.