America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

The Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Children

Nearly one-third of Americans born between 1988 and 1993 experienced their parents’ divorce before reaching adulthood, a watershed event for a child that can negatively impact them throughout their life.

A U.S. Census Bureau working paper linked parental divorce to lower income, reduced likelihood of living away from home while attending college, and higher rates of teen pregnancy, incarceration and mortality.

Researchers Maggie R. Jones (U.S. Census Bureau), Andrew C. Johnston (University of California Merced) and Nolan G. Pope (University of Maryland) analyzed Census Bureau data, federal tax records and Social Security Administration information to determine the long-term impact of divorce on children.

They traced parental marital histories and connected them to household and child outcome data.

Continue reading to learn more about: 

• Divorce outcomes
• Divorce across the U.S. population
• Trends across time

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