There is no question that growing up in a single parent family has some profound psychological effects on a child, but these effects are not necessarily all bad; there can be some really cool effects too! In days gone by, parents always “stayed together for the children’s sake,” so there were fewer divorces than today. The negative effects of growing up in a single-parent family were probably more common at the time than they are in today’s society, where divorce is more acceptable.

Positive psychological effects of a single parent family

reduced stress

The child or children experience a lot of stress and anxiety when there is a conflict in the home. Without conflict, a child will do much better academically even in a single parent home. Stress in the home also affects other parts of children’s lives, so they will definitely have a better outlook on life if the cause of stress is removed.

Improved parent-child relationships

Once the cause of the conflict has been removed and the home is at peace, the child will begin to see the parents in a new light and a closer relationship can develop. The father will also be more relaxed, so he will be able to pay more attention to the child and show more love. The interdependent relationship normally leads to better communication.

More responsible

Research has shown that children in a single-parent family tend to take on more responsibility and help out more around the house. They do so in part because they learn to appreciate the effort and sacrifices that the parents they live with make. It’s up to parents to make sure kids don’t take on too much responsibility too quickly and still enjoy their childhood.

Unfortunately, it’s not all good; There are also some negative psychological effects of a single parent family, no matter how hard the parent tries to make sure that everything goes well and that the child or children have everything they need.

Negative psychological effects of a single parent family

Resentment

Children may feel resentful because they feel they have lost and cannot have everything they once had, mainly due to financial constraints. Children may also resent a parent for leaving and moving out of the house. This resentment can lead to behavior problems and should be discussed as soon as possible.

Abandonment

If the child does not see enough of the non-custodial parent, they may develop feelings of abandonment and this could lead to feelings of guilt (that they were to blame for the divorce). Feelings of abandonment usually occur when the reason for the single-parent family is the death of one of the parents. These feelings can also cause the child to have a very low self-image.

There will be other psychological effects in a single parent family. The most important thing is to have open communication with your child and for your child to feel loved. Sometimes it is difficult to make children understand that the divorce was not their fault and it is normal for a child to go through some degree of psychological trauma after a divorce. After all, your security and family life has changed drastically. As long as they know that their parents still love them very much and care deeply for them, then they have laid the foundation for a happy child.