June 24, 2000
Column #982
(First of a series of three columns on marriage)
HERITAGE FOUNDATION CALLS FOR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
ON MARRIAGE
A million children a year see their
parents divorce, the impact of which is calamitous. A new report by the
Heritage Foundation ''demonstrates that the devastating physical, emotional
and financial effects on these children will last well into adulthood and
affect future generations.'' Only 42 percent of teens aged 14-18 live
in a ''first family,'' an intact, two-parent married family.
Children of divorce experience
''anger, fear, sadness, worry, rejection, conflicting loyalties, lowered
self-confidence, heightened anxiety, loneliness, more depressed moods, more
suicidal thoughts,'' says the Heritage report, ''The Effects of Divorce on
America'' by Patrick Fagan and Robert Rector. Compared to kids in intact
homes children of divorce face startling risks.They are:
12 times more liable to be incarcerated as
juveniles
14 times more prone to be physically abused
by a single mother, and 33 times more at
risk if she cohabits;
Three times more apt to get pregnant, and
males commit suicide at six-fold higher rates;
Twice as vulnerable to drop out of school;
Four times more likely to be in poverty. In
divorce, household income in 1993 plunged
from $43,600 to $25,300, a 42 percent drop.
If the parent remarries, the
children's prospects grow worse. They are more likely to be disruptive in
school than children of divorce, and girls are 6-40 times more likely to be
sexually abused by stepfathers than by biological fathers.
Even more chilling, Fagan and
Rector cite dozens of studies showing that many children of divorce become
dysfunctional adults: ''Even 30 years after the divorce, negative long-term
effects were clearly present in the income, health and behavior of many of
the grown offspring.'' They have more failed romantic relationships, a
greater number of sexual partners, are 2-3 times as apt to cohabit, are less
trusting of fiances, less giving to them and are twice as likely to divorce.
When both are from divorced homes
their risk of divorce is as much as 620 percent higher in early years of
marriage. Thus the ''marital instability of one generation is passed on to
the next.''
One reason that children of divorce
do poorly is that many lose their faith. They worship less frequently which
has ''serious consequences because religious practice has been found to have
beneficial effects on such factors as physical and mental health, education
level, income, virginity, marital stability, crime, addiction and general
happiness,'' reports Heritage. ''Church attendance is the most significant
predictor of marital stability...lower crime rates, better health and
longevity.''
Thus, divorce ''weakens
relationships, communities, cities, states and the nation. The increases in
the rates of child abuse and neglect, crime, behavioral and emotional
problems, health problems, cohabitation, future divorce and out-of-wedlock
births as well as the decrease in religious worship, educational attainment
and income potential should alarm every policymaker and community leader.''
Heritage's surprising conclusion is
that more government is needed. Though it is a very conservative think tank
that usually urges less government, Heritage notes that federal and state
governments spend $150 billion per year to subsidize single parent families
and only $150 million to strengthen marriage. ''Thus, for every $1,000 spent
to deal with the effects of family disintegration, only $1 is spent to
prevent that disintegration,'' a ''folly...evident to all.''
It suggests a compelling agenda to
those running for state or federal government office:
''Establish by resolution, a national goal of
reducing divorce among families with children by one-third over the next
decade. It would send a clear signal to parents that society values
marriage and is concerned about the effects of divorce on children.''
''Establish pro-marriage demonstration programs to
provide training in marriage skills to provide young people, dating
couples and married couples with the information and tools necessary to
help them build and maintain a strong marriage including an
understanding of the major reasons why marriages break up. The programs
also should seek to develop skills for handling conflict, dealing with
change and enhancing the marital relationship. Such pro-marriage
services should be offered in a variety of venues: churches, community
centers, courts, maternity and childbirth clinics, health centers,
welfare offices, military bases and high schools.''
Heritage notes state governments have $6 billion of ''surplus welfare
funds'' to pay for these initiatives, but virtually no money has been
spent on them, though one goal of the welfare reform law is to
''encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.'
States are urged to ''end no-fault divorce for
parents with children under 18.'' Divorces
for parents should only be granted by ''mutual consent'' or if fault
is proven and only if ''grave
harm will be visited upon the children by the continuance of the
marriage.''
More next week on Heritage's
remarkable report.
- Copyright 2000 Michael J. McManus. |
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