Marriage, Divorce, and Family Relations
Marriage, Divorce, and Family Relations
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) affirms children living with their married, biological parents consistently have better physical, emotional, and academic well-being (unless the children are experiencing an abusive environment). Although the demographics of families are changing, with more parents opting for cohabitation or divorce and stepparenting, the research continues to demonstrate the benefits of the married environment for children’s development.
Each child and each family are obviously unique, with different strengths and weaknesses, different personalities and temperaments, and varying degrees of social, emotional and economic resources, as well as differing family situations prior to divorce. Despite these differences, divorce has been shown to diminish a child’s future competence in all areas of life, including family relationships, education, emotional well-being, and future earning power.
With divorce and single parenting, children experience significant potential losses, including loss of time with parents, loss of economic security, loss of emotional security and weakened relationships with parents, loss of academic stimulation and possible loss of religious faith and practice. Children who have experienced divorce are at greater risk for physical, emotional and sexual abuse by a nonbiological parent-figure living in the home, and they may be less likely to value their own marriage in the future. Even the divorced adults (primarily mothers) may suffer similar losses, including decreased physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
When adults view their marriage as damaged and “at risk”, those who persist and work to improve their marriage often find ten years later that they are in a happy relationship. Therefore, ACPeds encourages married parents to work to improve their relationship and avoid divorce whenever possible. ACPeds supports the well-being of children, regardless of their family structure, and encourages parents (biological or adoptive) and guardians to provide maximal love and nurturance to their children.
Approved by the ACPeds Board of Directors (May 2025)
Approved by ACPeds Members (June 2025)
Corresponding ACPeds Referenced Paper:
Marriage, Divorce, and Family Relations: Effect on Children (2025)
Other Pertinent ACPeds Referenced Papers:
Marriage and the Family (Sept. 2014)
Cohabitation: Effects of Cohabitation on the Men and Women Involved – Part 1 of 2 (Mar. 2015)
