Most everyone, particularly people who have already been through a divorce, understand that any children of such a marriage will struggle with emotional difficulties as a result of this decision and the process as a whole. These struggles tend to manifest themselves by way of behavioral issues and perhaps some social problems, but like everyone else it’s incumbent on any family that breaks up to work together as much as possible to minimize the long-term damage to the children of that marriage.
Unfortunately, the results of a recent study indicate that one problem in particular may be much more common with children of divorce than with children whose parents remain together. That problem is the tendency to smoke later in life. Researchers at the University of Toronto recently completed a study that did not necessarily prove a cause-and-effect relationship, but it did reveal a strong statistical link between these two events.
Specifically, the study found that men who were younger than 18 when their parents divorced were 48 percent more likely to smoke more than 100 cigarettes when they got older than those whose parents did not. Females were 39 percent more likely to do so. The study also seemed to remove other potential factors in adult smoking that included socioeconomic status and other types of demographics that could have been a factor in the results.
Clearly, the research indicates that smoking is a way in which children of divorce may learn to cope with stress and anxiety. On the positive side of things, this study will prompt additional research into the potential link and it could provide a foundation for more targeted efforts to get to people at a young age before they start smoking to dissuade them from doing so.
As stated above, divorce is difficult for everyone, particularly children. If you are a father who is facing a divorce, this could be another thing for you to be wary of as your children get older. If you think that remaining in a dysfunctional marriage would do more harm than going your own way, contact the San Diego divorce lawyers at the Men’s Legal Center today to schedule an initial consultation.