Teens and Divorce :: How Race Affects It
Last month, an Ohio State University press release highlighted research about how parents’ divorce hurts teens in different ways depending on race and ethnic groups. According to the research, parental divorce or separation hurts Asian American and Caucasian teens the most followed by African American teens and then Hispanic teens.
How Divorce Affects Them
- Asian American Teens
Before divorce, they and Caucasian teens are accustomed to the most advantages in terms of parental resources and well-being. After divorce, Asian American teens were most bothered by the fewer social resources (talking to their parents and spending time with them). Economic resources may not be a factor because Asian American families tend to do well economically. - Caucasian Teens
As stated above, these teen are accustomed to many advantages before divorce. After divorce, they were equally bothered by the shortages of economic and social resources. - African American Teens
Before divorce, African American teens were better off in terms of parental resources and well-being than Hispanic teens. After divorce, they were most bothered by the fewer economic resources. - Hispanic Teens
According to OSU sociology professor Yongmin Sun, “In this study, Hispanics started off with a large number of difficulties and disadvantages in their lives. When that’s the case, family crises like divorce may not add much to the original problems.”
Just because divorce is more common in an ethnic or racial group, it doesn’t necessarily make it easier for children who are going through such a family disruption.
- Yongmin Sun :: associate professor of sociology :: Ohio State University
In other words, the prevalence of divorce in a culture does not affect how much it hurts. Just because “everyone” is getting divorced, does not condition us and make it easier for us to accept divorce. Parental divorce hurts teenagers. As for how much it hurts, it seems dependent on how drastically divorce alters a teen’s way of life with his family.
[via Iconoculture & Ypulse]
