School-Based Support Groups for Children of Divorce

Abstract

Parental divorce touches the lives of approximately one-third of children growing up in the United States. Although many youngsters are able to negotiate the life changes set in motion by their parents' divorce, accumulating clinical and research evidence indicates that a substantial minority of children suffer negative sequelae even years after their parents have separated. Children bring these divorce- related problems to school with them. These difficulties include interferences in concentrating on and completing academic tasks, problems in managing anger and conflict with school authorities and peers, disruptive classroom behavior, regressive behaviors and sadness. A time-limited support group intervention is presented. This model is based on the notion that children of divorce frequently encounter specific divorce-engendered suesses as the divorce process unfolds over time. Group sessions focus on these commonly occurring stressors, normalize children's reactions to them, acknowledge and articulate painful feelings and conflicts, and offer coping strategies to deal more effectively with them. Youngsters readily and enthusiastically participate in these groups. Research indicates that this intervention can be helpful in the short- and long-run.