Factors Impacting Adolescents: Parental Separation Effects

This report delves into the multifaceted impact of parental separation on adolescents, exploring the factors that contribute to the challenges they face. The research begins with a refined research question focusing on the factors influencing adolescents' mental health and development in the contex...Read More

What factors impact adolescents by the separation of parents and how does this affect
their mental health and development?
Choosing a topic and refining the question:
The issue of parents separation is a widespread one and it is clear that the offspring are
affected to a varying degree from it. However, due to the nature of the problem, it might be
difficult to put an end or be able to control it. As a result, the specifics related to the issue need
to be looked into so that the factors and their impact can be isolated. When forming the question
at first, the focus was on the impact. The mental health of the adolescents is most affected as
they are at a troubling stage where their body as well their perception is changing. Hence, it was
clear from the start that the target group of offspring will be adolescents. After a brainstorming
session and brief research about the topic was done and followed by making a mind map.
During the research, many case studies were considered which explained that the impact on the
adolescents was not always the same and the intensity of the effects varied to a great degree.
Then it became clear that the factors or characteristics of the divorce, parents dynamics and
that of adolescents need to be considered. Hence the research question was narrowed as now
focused factors that impacted adolescents.
Due to the nature of the question and the impact on the mental health, behaviour and attitudes
of the adolescents, the research will involve struggle as the results and impact on mental health
will be difficult to quantify. However, the topic gathered interest because of the currency and
relevance. The question plagues the minds of many researchers as well that of commoners.
Children coming from broken homes have undergone trauma that is relieved to various extents
with the passage of time. However, people are still aware of certain specifics which are often
considered undesired about the individuals who come from broken homes. As a result, the topic
was chosen to shed some light on the problem.
The research question developed much from its first inception. It was clear that the topic would
focus on the outcomes of belonging to broken homes. But the question was too broad and
difficult to satisfy within the scope of the research. Asa result, I chose to add some quantifiers or
specifics to the question so that is more focused and narrower.
Through research and case study analysis, two other subtopics came into relevance. The
consequence or impact of parental separation on the offspring was immense. However, by
defining the nature and intensity of the impact will not do justice to the question. And I felt that
this information would only serve to mark the differences between offspring who come from a
broken home and the ones who do not.

The factors underlying the separation of parents that in turn impact the offspring were
considered to be a more relevant topic. Also, the knowledge of these factors can also allow
parents to decrease the impact on the mental health of the offspring. As a child is most
susceptible, troubled and keep up with their changing body is during adolescence. Also. surveys
suggest that most marriages either break out in within 2-3 years or after 10-13 years. In the first
scenario, the offspring is too young to understand the specifics of the situation to be acutely
impacted by it. However, in the second case, they are grown up, their emotional quotient is also
active, which make them aware of the dynamics between their parents.
Some questions that were considered before were as follows: what is the impact of parental
separation on the offspring(s)?
What is the impact of the separation of parents on the minds of adolescents?
What factors play a role in impacting the mental health of adolescents undergoing parental
separation?
Taking into account, the aforementioned facts and discussions, the question came into
existence as it is now: What factors impact adolescents by the separation of parents and
how does this affect their mental health and development?
Reflection: the refinement process of the question helped me to focus on the problem not only
through the facts and information available to me. But I also considered my perception of the
problem and my will to provide key understanding of the issue which could be used for welfare.
This process made me acutely aware of the fact that it would be difficult to quantify or measure
the impact as a result, it would be more sensible to identify the factors that bring about the
outcome. Refining the question, as a result, proved to be of the essence as I would have
struggled with the question which was too broad to be dealt with in this research.
Through this research process, I hope to develop my analytical, research and time management
skills. The research project would involve both primary and secondary sources which would help
me to enhance my knowledge base and professionals skills like handling bulk data, interviewing
people, being organised, professional and approachable. Also, the research project will be filled
with opportunities where I would need to make a decision and overcome problems or
hindrances. The whole process is to fare through these issues and develop a project that
elucidates the question.
Research methods and processes:
The research project would involve both primary as well as secondary sources. This would
ensure that the information presented in the project is based on established facts and also
represents the real scenario. Facts collected from secondary sources help in developing the

concepts or sub-topics related to it whereas primary sources help to quantify and understand
the nature of the problem in the present or real-life scenario. Secondary sources used will
belong from variety of sources like journals, research articles, blog entries, case studies, reports
and surveys. All these sources will be duly credited and evaluated for their relevance, currency
and objectivity. It is essential to ensure that the sources of information are chosen in order to
enable a holistic comprehension of the issue. The choice of sources should be impacted by
personal bias or need to present the issue in a certain light. The same is true when handling
data from gained from primary research tools. Raw data needs to be processed and assimilated
so that clear inference can be drawn. It will be ensured that the data collection and data analysis
process will maintain the authenticity of the data and it will not be impacted in any way.
Capabilities:
● Personal and social capability
The personal and social capability is developed through the research as I will be able to
understand myself and other people, I meet during the research project. It would be
necessary to establish a professional relationship and be considerate of their lives, work,
social values and etc. this capability will be used and enhanced in the research work as I
would have to deal with the workload and produce the project within the given deadline.
This would require me to manage myself, emotional health, physical health and time.
In order to be able to produce quality work on time, I have created a system to
constantly evaluate the progress made in a given time period. The whole work will be
broken into smaller tasks which will enable me to schedule them better. I will be free
from the pressure and stress of not being able to deliver the work on time and can also
evaluate my own work.
● Ethical understanding capability
This capability allows for the understanding of ethical and moral consideration that need
to be accounted for to produce a work that has been procured through relevant sources.
A strong social understanding of value systems and ethics was gained which allowed me
to comprehend the context and manage conflicts whenever they arise. Personal
attributes of honesty, empathy and respect for others and their work is nurtured through
the project work. The information collected from both primary and secondary sources
have been referenced and have not been plagiarised. Also, the participants who were
involved in the primary research survey have been briefed about their role and have
filled a form where they have agreed to share the experiences. Their names and other
testimonials have not been recorded and hence cannot be shared.

Ethical Considerations and time management:
The ethical consideration were all fulfilled and the research is a piece of genuine, moral and
relevant literature that has been collected from both primary and secondary sources. Both these
sources have been acknowledged and the personal information of the participants of the survey
have not been collected and cannot be shared. In order to be on time, grant chart was made
and the project tasks were divided accordingly. This provided an informed perspective about the
progress of the work and allowed me to take planned breaks in order to relieve the stress from
the work.
Main activities
and stages
Day 1 to
3
Day 4 to
6
Day 7 to
10
Day 11
and 12
Day 13
to 15
Day 16-
19
Day 20
Selection of
the topic
✓
Collection of
data
✓
Planning the
proper layout
✓
Reviewing
literature
✓
Development
of the
research plan
✓ ✓
Selecting a
research
technique
✓
Gathering
primary data
✓
Data analysis ✓
Interpretation
of findings
✓
Conclusion
preparation
✓
Project rough
overdraft
✓

Final
submission
✓
Reflection of the effectiveness
A concept map was made to understand the subtopics and related concepts that would be dealt
with in the project. This enabled to visualise the whole scope and reach of the project which was
not possible before. This was the tasks were easily divided according to subtopics and research
processes and a grant chart was made to divide the work in the given time.
Action plan
An action plan was created for three weeks where the proposal was designed and conducted.
The action plan comprises the ideas that I already have and how to build upon them.
What do I already
know?
What do I need to
know?
What sources will I
use
What evidence will I
collect for the
project?
● Separation or
divorces of
the parents
have an
impact on
their offspring
● Adolescents
belonging to a
broken home
are often
delinquents.
● There is a
taboo
attached to
belonging to a
broken home
or being
raised by a
single parent.
● The impact of
parental
separation on
the
adolescent's
mental health
● The factors
that leave
greater impact
● The
consequences
and
behavioural
changes
caused by the
impact
● The incidence
and
prevalence of
Primary sources
● Survey,
interviews
Secondary sources
● Journals
● Research
articles
● Mental health
guidelines
● Blog entries
● Case studies
● Articles
● Concept map
● Action plan
● Survey
● Grant chart

the impact
Secondary Research: Source Analysis
Source type: article
Reference: Australian Institute of Family Studies, (2012), Parental separation from an
adolescent perspective: What do they say?, Retrieved from
https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/cfca/pubs/papers/a142071/cfca05.pdf
Purpose: The paper brings to light the findings from the interviews with adolescents who hail
from a broken home or separated families.
Summary: This article provided an opportunity for adolescents to present their views and
experiences related to their parent’s separation. They are required to make substantial
adjustments that put pressure on their emotional as well as mental capabilities.
Relevance: the articles are highly relevant to the research question, as rather than approaching
the topic through research, theories and other forms of facts, it is better to understand the
situation the adolescents find themselves in and move on from that (Department of Justice,
2015). As a result, this article is the first piece of information that is included in the portfolio as it
is key to the understanding of the scenario that leaves a considerable impact on adolescent
minds.
Bias: the article is based on the “Views of Adolescents in Separated Families: A Study of
Adolescents’ Experiences After the 2006 Reforms to the Family Law System” by Lodge and
Alexander, 2010. It is clear that the writer heavily depends on the views put forward by Lodge
and Alexander rather than finding their own.
Useful information: After the knowledge of parental separation, the adolescents find themselves
at a range of feelings that range from relief to disbelief and a wish for them to reconcile again.
However, most of the adolescents agreed that the separation was logical and thought out rather
than being born out from a whim, their understanding enabled them to come to acceptance with
the separation but at some cost (Shafer et al. 2017). They were also aware that their parents
tried to shield them from the tensions between the parents, but it only made the situation more
complex.
Further scope of research: this article created a base and provided context for the scenario
(Ribar, 2015). It provided me with an understanding of how adolescents are acutely aware of

the situation and family dynamics that are evolving and required to put up with that. This
requirement will be researched further to understand how it impacts their mental health.
Source: Research journal
Reference: NCBI, (2017), Parental separation in childhood as a risk factor for depression in
adulthood: a community-based study of adolescents screened for depression and followed up
after 15 years, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370459/
Purpose: Prior research has been conducted to investigate the association between parental
separation and health outcomes. However, there is no study to delineate the impact of parental
separation on the mental health status of adolescents. The study presents the prevalence of
depression as a long-term health condition among adolescents (Haimi and Lerner, 2016).
Summary: parental separations have many consequences on the mental health of an
adolescent, the most important one being depression and anxiety. It appears to be the
moderators and is intensified as they grow up into independent adults.
Relevance: the research is relevant and the data presented has several strengths. The sample
size is large, consisting of 2300 adolescents coming broken homes. The data also included
clinical interviews and diagnosis of adolescents. The follow up was conducted for 15 years
which strengthened the difference between offspring coming from normal homes and the one
from broken homes (Kalmijn, 2015).
Bias: there was no bias noticed, the source is a trusted one and the research was also
published by the national institute of health US.
Useful information: depression is not the only mental health issue that is associated with
parental separation. It may also be related to bipolar disorder, anxiety and somatoform disorder
which intensifies as the offspring grows. 60% of the offspring whose parents had been
separated showed the prevalence or development criteria for anxiety disorder (Schaan et al.
2016). Whereas, only 14.3% offspring whose parents are still together showed the development
of mental health disorders. This shows a clear association between mental disorders and
belonging from a broken home.
Further scope of research: the association between mental health disorders as an impact of
parental separation was established by this research. The impact includes disorders like
depression, social anxiety and somatoform disorder. This led on to the next step of research
into the factors causing these consequences.
Source: Website

Reference: Department of Justice, (2015)The Effects of Divorce on Children: A Selected
Literature Review, https://justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/divorce/wd98_2-dt98_2/p3.html
Purpose: Listing the factors or characteristics that have an effect on the post-divorce
adjustments of adolescents.
Summary: there are certain characteristics that make an adolescent more prone to being
negatively impacted. These include gender, age, family characteristics, socio-economic status,
custodial household dynamic, race, child rearing skills etc.
Relevance: the factors are of greater importance in this research project and hence it has been
included. The characteristics have been divided between the family and that of the child. The
combination of the two creates a variety of impact on the offspring (Chun et al. 2016).
Bias: the published website is more focused on justice and custodial benefits of the child. As a
result, it considers the factors that allow a judge to choose the household which could provide
better sustenance and growth opportunities to the kid. This does not consider the factors that
are likely to have an impact on the mental health of the adolescent.
Useful information: the study asserted that after the fifth year of divorce, boys are more likely to
show detrimental effects than a girl child. Parent separation impacts younger kids more than the
older ones; however, they are also more enabled to come to acceptance and not show any
long-term impacts. Whereas, offspring who are ten or older showcase long term mental health
impacts.
Further scope of research: this study narrows down the research question to include the
differences impact the factors can have depending on the characteristics of the offspring at the
time of their parent’s divorce (Perrig-Chiello et al. 2015).
Source: Blogpost
Reference: Good Therapy, (2016), ‘Life-Transforming’: Divorce Implications for Adolescents,
Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/life-transforming-divorce-implications-for-
adolescents-0517165
Purpose: presents an impactful picture of the consequences of parental discord and separation
during adolescence, when they are already burdened with mental and physical development
(Sands et al. 2017).
Summary: the pain, trauma and turbulence have an impact on the adolescents which acts as a
barrier between them and emotional wellbeing.

Relevance: This study considers the change in the family dynamic and the addition of significant
others in the family. This makes it even more difficult as the offspring have to come to an
acceptance and also make space for an additional partner (Leopold, 2016).
Bias: it is difficult to be assured of the objectivity of the information as it is taken from a blog and
shares the opinions of the writer.
Useful information: The most impactful and unhealthy inference that all children draw from their
parent's separation is that all relationships are unreliable and come with an expiry date. This
causes them to draw themselves away from the external world as they are afraid of
relationships and bonds. They are afraid to trust other people which makes it difficult for them to
interact and establish themselves in the external world.
Further scope of research: This post led on to the possibility of adolescents feeling left out after
their parents pay attention to their significant others (Sclater, 2017).
Source: Website
Reference: Psychology Today (2015), How Parental Divorce Can Impact Adolescence Now
and Later, Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/surviving-your-childs-
adolescence/201511/how-parental-divorce-can-impact-adolescence-now-and
Purpose: This post shows the impact of parental separation on an adolescent and how they
react to future love relationships when they grow up (Tartari, 2015).
Summary: There is a difference between the ways an offspring approaches the separation of
their parents depending on their age.
Relevance: this post shows how the response of younger offspring is different from adolescents.
As a result, adolescents are more susceptible towards showing long term impacts like social
disabilities or even mental disorders.
Bias: no bias or subjective views were noted in the post.
Useful information: offspring who are younger than 10 years have regressive reactions, where
they want to hold their parents close. In offspring aged between 10 to 13, the common
responses are aggressive where they do not want to come to terms with the divorce and want
their parents to reconcile irrespective of their differences. However, children older than 13 are
able to come to an acceptance and understand the reasons behind the separation. But on the
other, they develop trust issues and treat other relationships and bonds in their life with fear.
Further scope of research: this post pointed towards the fact that there are certain factors
intrinsic to the stage of adolescence that makes them most vulnerable (Yárnoz-Yaben et al.
2016).

Source: Newspaper article
Reference: Huffpost, (2011), The effects of Divorces on Adolescents, Retrieved from:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-effects-of-divorce-on_b_877121
Purpose: shows how the nature and characteristics of being adamant, appearing cold and
unaffected by the divorce is actually a negative response that makes the process of coming to
terms with parental separation more difficult.
Summary: the divorce is often considered as a breach of trust and affection and the adolescents
are left without a care provider whom they cannot believe (Zemp et al. 2016).
Relevance: this is another article that shows how the characteristics specific to the stage of
adolescence make them even more susceptible.
Bias: no bias was noted in the article.
Useful information: in the stage of adolescence, the offspring have developed a knowledge of
value systems and judgement. They perceive their parents as having breached the values that
they had once cultured and promoted in the children. This sudden change is debilitating for the
adolescents.
Source: YouTube video
Reference: YouTube, (2012), The impact of divorce on children: Tamara D. Afifi at TEDxUCSB,
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKcNyfXbQzQ
Purpose: impact and scenarios of divorce through the eyes of children. The impact ranges from
short term to long term impacts. However, there are also offspring who are not affected and are
able to come to terms with the change.
Summary: the video is put forward by a professor who has collected the views and opinions
about her students. While trying to give adolescents a voice, it appeared that most of them
wanted to speak about the issue of divorce.
Relevance: the source of the video is from the Tedx channel which is renowned for their well-
researched and organised topics. The issues however, has been presented in accordance to
the views provided by the students of the speaker (Jackson et al. 2018. It only presents part of
the whole spectrum.
Useful information: adolescents find it difficult to communicate their feelings and as a result they
come off as being cold and uninterested. However, they are affected and because of being
unable to discuss their emotions they cannot suffer alone.

Further scope of research: this video also showed how some adolescents are unable to present
their emotions and their views about the issue to their parents. This is a major factor that causes
them to have long term effect (Lamela et al. 2016.
Source: Research journal
Reference: ncbi, (2014), Does Parental Divorce Increase Risk Behaviors among 15/16- and
18/19-year-old Adolescents? A Study from Oslo, Norway, Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4085585/
Purpose: this research investigates the association between risk behaviour among offspring
between the age groups 15-16 and 18-19 with that of parental separation (Tebeka et al. 2016).
L
Summary- parental separation has many other impacts on the behaviour of the teenagers along
with deteriorating their mental health. Risk behaviour is more common among these age groups
because they have greater amount of independence.
Relevance: in the above presented sources of secondary information, it was seen that parental
separation had an impact on the mental health which on the hand made the children distant and
censure their contact with the social world. However, this research shows that impact on mental
health is not only limited to disorders like depression and anxiety. It also promotes the children
to engage in risk behaviours like unprotected sex with multiple partners, drinking, smoking and
substance abuse (Bastaits and Mortekmans, 2016).
Bias: the research presents valuable data and there is no bias or conflict of interest noted.
Summary: the results from the research are unable to establish a direct association with their
age. However, irrespective of the age group, there is an association with the risk behaviour like
smoking and use of doping agents was seen in offspring belonging to broken homes in a cross-
sectional study.
Further scope of research- this research lacked the information to make a successful
association with the specific age groups and risk behaviours. However, in the cross-sectional
study, the two appeared to be related irrespective to the age. Further research may consider the
importance of other characteristics like the socio-economic background of the child and their
dynamics with their parents (Namkung et al. 2015).
Source: Thesis

Reference: Sematic scholar, (2017), The Effects Of Parental Divorce On Adolescents: A Focus
On The Dimensions Of The Wellness Model, Retrieved from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5f59/c7d2f50bce17d10474748680c5b2a46315c1.pdf
Purpose: the thesis examines the effect of parental divorce on adolscents based on the
dimension of the wellness model.
Summary: through the use primary data collection tool of questionnaire, information was
gathered from 100 adolescents. The results suggest that the wellbeing of the offspring is
lowered after the divorce. The study delineates that the impact is quite strong and can have a
life long effect.
Bias: there is criteria given for choosing 100 adolescents. As a result, the status of well being of
the participants could have impacted the results.
Relevance: according to wellness model, the impact of divorce has been considered on three
health factors that includes emotional, social and intellectual wellbeing (Bøe et al. 2018).
Useful information: the information proved that the greatest impact is on social wellbeing of the
adolescent and then on emotional and intellectual wellness respectively.
Further scope of research: the thesis points out that in most studies conducted of this sort, most
of the children belong to heterosexual families. Families and divorce rate in same sex marriages
has to be considered by future researchers (Das, 2016).
Source: Newspaper article
Reference: Huffpost, (2019), Divorce Affects A Child’s Mental Health More At Certain Ages,
Study Finds, Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/family-breakup-affect-
children_uk_5c3f5adee4b0e0baf5439644
Purpose: mental wellness and the increasing prevalence of mental disorders has raised an
international awareness towards it. With the adult population today being affected with
depression and other mental disorder more than ever, researchers are looking into the reasons
behind childhood and adolescent depression which intensify into adult depression (Feeney and
Monin, 2016). It was found that coming from a broken home is one of major factors that impacts
the mental wellbeing of an individual.
Summary: late childhood to early adolescent children are most susceptible to trauma from
parental separation. Unlike the young children, they are aware of the changing dynamics and
the individual needs of their parents. This prevents them from desiring a reconciliation.
However, they are not too sure about the permanence of all kinds of relationships.

Relevance: the article is relevant because it is presents how adolescents and not younger
children are the most vulnerable age group of offspring, undergoing parental separation.
Bias: It is hoped that the information presented in a respected newspaper article is free from
bias.
Useful information: offspring aged above 14 years showed 16% increases in emotional
problems and 8% increase behavioral issues.
Further scope of research: the impact is lower among families who are economically well to do
and their metal wellbeing is also less likely to be impacted (Schoenfelder et al. 2015).
Reflection of challenges and opportunities:
Through the procedure of research led from recordings, articles and sourcebooks, set up has
been a more noteworthy comprehension of the subtopics significant to my exploration question.
These assets energized my learning capacities as all databases utilized were important assets
to settling my exploration question. Conquering the test of time burning through on sources was
changed and time was spared by going to the substance page of the books I was seeing,
searching for specific catchphrases identified with the subtopics. All through the auxiliary
research of sourcebooks a comprehension of the subject was viewed as valuable while optional
assets including sites and articles were less, this is as sites required superfluous data that was
insignificant to the theme. Another challenge was finding the sources of information from various
sources that have to be free from personal bias and also present the information that pertinent
and relevant to the research. Also, the recency of the sources of information was considered
before including them in the portfolio. Recency is an important criterion, as with the change in
time, the scenario and prevalence of parental separation is increasing. Also, the parents have
become aware of the negative impact of their conflict on the children. As a result, they try to put
up a front that presents a happy picture. However, the children are able to see through the
façade and this further complicates the situation.
On the other hand, pertaining to the sensitive and wide spread nature of the question, a lot
literature was available. Many researchers had investigated on the topic and data was available
in abundance. This required me to define my issue better and choose information that is
relevant.
Capabilities Reflection:
Through the examination of secondary sources, I enhanced my Personal and Social and my
Ethical Understanding abilities. In the investigation of sources, I built up my Ethical
understanding ability by considering and regarding the rights and work of different people and
by contacting different friends and getting significant data that can help further my exploration. I

gained a greater and insightful comprehension of the value system and how it functions. In
order to interact with people and extract information from, it is necessary to maintain this value
system as it manages a smooth flow of communication and information. It participated in my
improvement as sources were recognized by referencing every single auxiliary source. My
Personal Social ability was utilized successfully in my examination as having the option to
associate and contact participants by means of Email was a significant component when settling
my inquiry. I also needed to procure and manage data collected from various sources. Raw data
is impressionable and need to be handled objectively. Personal bias and preference cannot be
allowed to impact the data as then the research information ill not be credible.
Primary Resource Analysis:
Purpose: In the above section, information has been collected from various secondary sources
and the key finding has been presented. This portfolio of data is however, incomplete without a
primary source of information where the data was collected directly from the respondents or the
participants. For this, a survey was developed aimed at high school and college going students
who have and have not undergone a parental separation. they had been first approached
through a social media page and the intimated through email. They were briefed about the
nature of the research projects and the role they would play. Many of the respondents were
hesitant at first because the issue if quite personal and they did not want to talk about it. They
were then told that only their opinions and views were required and not any personal information
through which their identities could be revealed. The survey question would be close ended and
based on the Likert scale which will consist of 5 answers or options points. This scale allows the
respondents to give neutral or moderate answers when they are not sure about their own views
(Haimi and Lerner, 2016). This scale is commonly used in survey as it allows the respondent
more room for subjectivity than a yes or no scale. The aim of the survey is to get first hand
understanding of the situation from adolescents who have undergone parental separation. the
survey will include students who come normal as well as broken homes as this would allow to
compare the differences and assert an association with the impacts and parental separation.
Distribution of respondents: the respondents were approached first through social media posts
and advertisements posted on university pages and database. It called for students who were
interested in taking part in a survey. Some other participants were approached personally and
briefed at the same time. The participants were from the Concordia College and St. Joseph’s
high school. The targeted audience for the survey were students from 14-19 years of age as the
impact of parental separation was to be studied in adolescents. 127 students agreed to take the
survey quiz among 239 who were approached. The survey included offspring of both divorced

or non-divorced parents. Some of the students came up on their own and sent up email as they
wanted to be associated with this survey. Whereas, other were hesitant and consoled through
briefing. They were assured and were asked to sign a confidentiality form where we
acknowledged their identity and other associated details will not be shared with anyone.
They were also briefed about how to use the Likert scale and how to maintain objectivity in their
answers. The scope of the research project is limited and as a result it is difficult to account for
the variety of experiences. The Likert scales enables to limit the answer range and still provide
the respondents with enough room (Afifi et al. 2015).
Reflection: survey is an easy and effective primary data collection tool that is credible and
produces impactful information. Another benefit is that the information can be collected directly
from the respondents who have been affected by the issue (Attar-Schwartz and Fuller-
Thomson, 2017). Also, the data collected can be recorded and analysed through systematically
and can be compared with one another to draw specific inferences. In secondary or qualitative
form of data mathematical assessment of data is not possible. Also, one cannot be sure how
data is collected from quantitative sources and if it has been handled well. A lot of brainstorming
and research went into the conception of survey questions. I have noticed that the issues of the
research project are of sensitive nature and it is to be ensured that the respondents do not feel
disrespected or are alienated. The questions need to be professional yet probing to elicit
objective answers that can be put to use. However, I feel that there is also a risk associated with
using survey as a data collection tool. It is difficult to ascertain whether the participants
response is true their beliefs or opinions or whether they are answering for the sake of
answering (Perales et al. 2017). This especially happens when the topic of the survey is a
sensitive one and the respondents do not want to disclose their true beliefs. It is difficult to
identify these answers amidst all the responses and hence need to be included in the data set.
As a means to elicit true answers, I designed clear and direct questions which would be easy to
interpret.
Evaluation of primary sources
1. Are your parents divorced/ separated or currently in the process of being separated?

Yes No
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
Are your parents divorced/
separated or currently in the
process of being separated?
Fortunately, only 58 students out of 127 students has parents who had separated. These
answers also included the responses of the students who were aware that their parents
are going to separate in the near future. This shows that the offspring are aware of the
tensions in the household and are also going to be impacted by it.
2. How old were you at the time of separation?
12 to 14 15 to 18 18 to 20 younger than
mentioned
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
How old were you at the time of
separation?
From the responses it becomes clear that most parents are going separation at a later
stage in their marriage. This makes the situation even more troubling for the offspring as
they hoped that their parents could reconcile. In some cases, divorce after long period of
marriage can also hint towards relationships outside the marriage which has caused a
rift between the parents (Herman et al. 2015). This is even more troubling to come to

acceptance with for the offspring and leaves a greater impact on how they perceive
relationships in future.
The responses show that most parents were divorced when they 18 to 20 years old. This
when the child is on the cusp of adulthood and their life is filled with rapid changes, like
graduation, finding a job and change in the way how they interact with the world.
3. Do you have siblings and how old are they?
yes no
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Do you have siblings and how old are they?
(answer only if your parents are separated)
After the divorce of the parents, the elder sibling often takes a parental role in consoling
the youngers and making them understand how a separation is logical and in best
interest of the parents. Depending on the age group, the siblings are going to react in a
particular way. However, due to the presence of their sibling who is also going through
the same, their responses can be muted and less hostile. It has been seen by other
researchers as well, households with close sibling relationships fare well during parental
separations (Boring et al. 2015).
However, there is another issue related to the sibling relationship which changes if the
both the parents get the custody of one child and the siblings have to live separately.
This accounts for greater loss as the children not only lose one of their parents but also
a sibling. The change in the family dynamics is greater in such cases.
4. Do you think your parents are likely to separate in near future? (answer if you parents
are not divorced yet)

yes no
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Do you think your parents are likely to
separate in near future? (answer if you parents
are not divorced yet)
11 among the 69 students answered yes. Their views might be clearly based on
conjectures but this shows how acutely aware they are of the family dynamics and
relationships that they can assert a likely separation in the near future (Harold and Leve,
2018). This awareness also elicits a response which is either hidden. The individual may
respond through aggression or by drawing themselves away from their attachment, lack
of interest, falling grades and turmoil in their relationships as well (Astrup et al. 2017).
Parents often try to shield them from the tensions and turbulence happening between
them. In such case the news of the divorce comes as a sudden blow and the child may
not have been anticipating it.
5. Do you think it is likely that the family dynamics and relationships change after the
parents separate?

highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Do you think it is likely that the family
dynamics and relationships change after the
parents separate?
81 students responded to the change in family relationships being highly likely and 24
others said that it is likely. This shows that children are aware of the pressure it is to
come to an acceptance of their parents separating and having to choose one of them to
live with. Also, most children look up to their parents as they are the first agents that help
them link with the outside world (Luecken et al. 2016. As a result, children have an
idealistic perception of their parents which is shattered in case of a nas0ty divorce. The
divorce is often associated with charging accusations on one another which
6. Do you think it is likely that children/ offspring find it difficult to cope with a situation like
parental divorce?
highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Do you think it is likely that children/ offspring
find it difficult to cope with a situation like
parental divorce?
The answers were all divided and near the average mark. However, the highest
response has been given to “highly likely” this shows that most students are aware how

difficult it is for the child to cope with their parents separation. the home is considered
the safe haven where one can escape from the turmoil of the outside world, find peace
and solace. During the time of divorce, the hose becomes the scene of turmoil and the
child has nowhere to escape to and consult with regarding the situation (Thuen et al.
2015). They are left on their own and have to come to an acceptance. This elicits many
reactions and feelings like anger, confusion, disbelief and even ignorance.
7. How likely are you to believe that divorce or separation is necessary and cannot be
worked out?
highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
How likely are you to believe that divorce or
separation is necessary and can be worked
out?
Most students believed that divorces cannot be work out or their parents cannot
reconcile with each other. Unlike younger offspring who are is disbelief and want their
parents to forget their grievances and reconcile, adolescents are aware of that their
parents have issues which cannot be worked out and in order for greater happiness they
have taken this decision (Wolchik et al. 2016). As a result, they do not hope for a
reconciliation and want to be support their parents decisions. However, a minor portion
among the students believe that reconciliation is possible but depends on the specific of
the divorce and cannot be predicted beforehand.
8. Do you think it is likely that a child has long term impact of their parents’ separation?

highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Do you think it is likely that a child
has long term impact of their
parents’ separation?
47 out of 129 respondents believed that the impact on the child is substantial and cannot
be disregarded. Whereas only 16 responders said that the impact is negligible. Other
responses were located in the middle of these two extremes. This shows that there is an
understanding among the adolescents that divorce has a negative impact on the
offspring. This knowledge may be gained from their personal experiences or that of
some of their acquaintances (Weaver and Schofield, 2015). The impact is so
perceivable that among the students that they are aware of the signs and change in
habits.
9. Do you think it is likely that children from divorced families have different behavioural
and social attitudes than children whose parents are still together?
highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Do you think it is likely that children from
divorced families have different behavioural
and social attitudes than children whose
parents are still together?

The students believe that it is difficult to perceive if the changes in the behaviour of a
student or their peer is whether due to parental separation. However, they students
reported that they believe that there certain mental, emotional and behavioural changes
in the child which may not be discernible to the outside world. This makes it difficult for
the individual to cope up with their surrounding where they were once comfortable. They
are likely to feel alienated and different from their peers because of trauma and
emotional pain they are going through. This takes up most of their thought process and
they are unable to concentrate on anything else. As a result, their relationships, social
bonds, hobbies, interests and academic ability appear to decrease. Most parents and
people around notice the changes only when it causes changes in the habits and
expected behaviour of the individual.
10. How likely is it that the children are aware of tension between the parents before the
divorce?
highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
51
17
23
38
How likely is it that the children are aware of
tension between the parents before the
divorce?
Since a child in most families is deeply associated with their parents and play an active
role in the family dynamic, they are likely to be aware of any rising tension amidst their
parents. However, most families have minor to moderate tensions and areas of conflicts
which are overcomes and do not cause a rift between the parents. The children are
aware of their parents behaviour and are old enough to perceive them in different light.
They are aware of right and wrong and will be able to identify a behaviour which cannot
be supported or which is likely to hurt the other spouse (Jackson et al. 2016). As a
result, in most cases the children are aware that a separation or divorce is looming the
near future. This provides them with time to arrange their emotions and even take sides.

11. How likely is it that child reaches out to their parents to convey their feelings about the
situation?
highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
14
8
56 51
How likely is it that child reaches
out to their parents to convey their
feelings about the situation?
Most of students believe that the child undergoing divorce will not present their true
feelings about the divorce towards their parents as they might not be supportive.
Offspring are likely to develop aggressive, demanding and very emotional responses.
This could prevent them from considering the situation from a logical point of view.
However, some adolescents are aware that a divorce is the best solution and could end
the challenging and troubling relationship between their parents. They put on a brave
front and support their parents by acknowledging their decision and their right to live life
on their own terms, irrespective of how this is going to impact them.
12. How likely is it that a child tries to be supportive and hides their real feelings?
highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
28
53
22
26
How likely is it that a child tries to be
supportive and hides their real feelings?

During the period of adolescence, a child drifts away from their parents and is also
hesitant to communicate their feelings and emotions. it is a time when their body is
raging with growth hormones which makes them even more emotional and confused as
they are trying to keep up with the changes. As a result, it highly likely that they will hide
their true emotions and say what their parents want to hear from them. Moreover, the
family is a safe haven where an individual can be whatever they like to be (Sandler et al.
2015). During the time of parental separation, the child needs to be observant and
acknowledging of the feelings of both their parents. They need to keep a check on their
views, opinions and emotions as it may have an impact on their parents as well.
13. It is likely that the divorce impacts the children and how they visualise future
relationships?
highly likely likely cant say not likely
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
28
35
42
22
It is likely that the divorce impacts the children
and how they visualise future relationships?
The most common response was “can’t say”. The students are unaware how the impact
is going to manifest itself as there are many variations and factors involved. the second
highest response is “likely”. 35 out of 127 respondents believed that divorces have an
impact on how the offspring perceive their future relationships. this childhood
experiences makes it difficult for them to trust and establish bond with others later in life.
Evaluation
Summary
The aim of the product was to find out the factors that impact the mental health of adolescents
in the wake pf parental separation. It is known and accepted that adolescents coming from
broken homes are emotionally stunted and develop certain characteristic features. However, the
information and literature available is not enough. It is important to know the factors that affect
them in order to be able to protect the adolescents. The research process included the
collection of a folio from a variety of sources and a primary survey. The key findings suggest

that divorce impacts adolescents the most. This negates the popular belief that children below
the age of 10 are the ones who are most impacted. In reality, they are able to heal and move on
the process. But due to burden of bodily and hormonal changes, adolescents find it difficult to
be accustomed to the changes brought by parental separation.
E1: EVALUATION OF RESEARCH PROCESS USED, SPECIFIC TO THE RESEARCH
QUESTION
QU: What factors impact adolescents by the separation of parents and how does this
affect their mental health and development?
This research was included as it is important to first have a grasp of how the adolescents truly
respond to parental separation. This knowledge forms the basis of the impact. In this piece of
literature collected from a reliable online source, the reactions of the adolescents have been
reviewed. Listening to their perspectives gives an idea about how their world is gathered around
their parents. Parental separation requires adjustment from their sides. Parents are a valued
source of socialization and support for the adolescents and separation from can have an impact
on their behavior and how they respond to others. The research debunks some of the popular
myths about parental separation. It was believed that the young offspring are the most affected
because they are unable to understand the criticality of the situation. On the other hand, the
research revealed that the adolescents are worst off. This is because they are at a juncture of
life where their world is changing. They are beginning to view the world for themselves and
preparing for the adult life. A drastic change at this shakes them up. Their trust is also broken
and they start to view every relationship aspects of their life as temporary.
The information from the sources provided key insights for the research. Certain factors like
age, family dynamics and presence of siblings were underlined as the one that determine the
extent of impact on the adolescents. The information was valid as it was taken from reliable
sources that either have been validated from the Australian government and research centers,
taken from medical database like PubMed, thesis and a psychology journal. Other more
informal forms of information sources have been also included as they provided a review of
adolescent’s reactions towards divorce. These included a blog and website posts, newspaper
articles and a YouTube video of a teacher talking about the major problems faced by her
adolescent students. Due to the nature of the research, I felt that it was essential to include both
formal thesis and journal articles along with informal articles as mentioned above. This would
help me to base the research on solid information as well on reviews of personal experiences of
people who have gone through the trauma of parental separation during their adolescence.
The sources are highly reliable as they are taken from website database or sites that are
accepted by all and have also been accepted for academic purposes. On the other hand, the
informal reviews are taken from blogposts, a renowned newspaper article, much accepted
psychology website and YouTube channel TEDx.
In conclusion, the sources of information were all justified in my portfolio. The only limitation was
that there was no firsthand information from an adolescent who was going through this
experience. All the responses were being provided by secondary sources which made it difficult
to vouch for the credibility of the responses.
E2 EVALUATION OF DECISIONS MADE IN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGE AND OR
OPPORTUNITIES SPECIFC TO THE RESEACH PROCESS USED

When I was done with my folio, I felt that summarizing secondary data and responses were not
enough. I felt that given the sensitive nature of the topic, it is possible that there is a bias
attached to it. Also, the significance of primary data which has been collected specifically for the
research cannot be highlighted more. As a result, I chose to also include a primary survey in the
research folio. When planning the primary survey, I was met with another dilemma. I could not
decide whether I the survey would include only adolescents who come from broken homes or all
students in general. I chose for the latter idea as I believed segregating students who had
divorced parents would make them more hesitant to participate in the survey. I also realized that
including students that comes from separated parents as well as from parents who are still
together will help me to identify the behavioral differences between the two.
It was also difficult to approach the students and convince them to participate in the essay. I
asked the students to contact their friends, peers and inform them about the survey. They were
hesitant because the topic was sensitive and even traumatic for them. I had to first take
permission from the head teacher and then approach the students. It took quite some effort in
persuading them. I told them that their personal data like their name, email and class details will
not be shared or disclosed. Many of the students used pseudonyms to fill the survey forms as
well. They were given an acknowledgement form that made them believe the seriousness of the
research purpose.
I also noticed that some students had attempted only certain questions and left other blank. It
could be said that they did not feel comfortable answering them. This could hint towards their
mental state due to parental separation. But I was not sure how to incorporate that in my
research. After organizing the responses, I saw that they were not enough to be presented in
the research. I later asked the students who had attempted the survey to reach out to their
friends and peers. I also asked them to convey their experience of the survey to those people
who were hesitant to take the survey. This was done in the hope that other respondents would
come up if they realize that the survey is harmless, does not probe into their personal life than
necessary and does not collect their personal information. This idea worked in the end and
more students came up to take the survey.
E3: EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY OF RESEARCH OUTCOME
The quality of my research outcome is satisfactory. Even though my outcome will not be put to
any public use but it supports the inference drawn by other researchers as well. I used a variety
of information sources and all of them were credible. I can vouch for the credibility of these
sources as their searching strategy was highly detailed and exclusive. I also added on a primary
survey in my research as I felt there was a dearth of first hand responses from adolescents who
have gone through parental separation. This was because, apart from the information collected
from two research journals and a thesis papers were speculative rather than being informative. I
sought to take the matter in my hand and perform a survey to be assured of the research
outcomes. Yet, my outcome was mainly based on the secondary research as the survey
information was stunted and mildly supported the secondary research outcomes as well. The
main limitation of the survey was the small sample size. I also could not ascertain whether the
respondents answered correctly or were guarding their responses. My research outcome was
also impacted by the personal bias and opinions of the authors I have included in my folio. It
was difficult to free my research from this bias and as an attempt to get credible outcomes, I
performed a primary survey.

My research outcome debunked the popular idea that the offspring below the age of 10 are
most affected by the divorce. It proved that older offspring, who are even older than adolescents
also develop mental health issues like depression and anxiety after parental separation. The
social significance of this outcome enhances the quality of the research. Even though it is
unlikely that the research will be put to use. It can be still be utilized to raise an awareness
within the small group of people who come in touch with the research or were approached for its
sake. Factors like presence of siblings, age of the offspring, family dynamics and closeness to
parents before divorce have been identified as the factors that determine the intensity of impact
on mental health. Adolescents have more guarded responses; they often come off as rebels
who have disassociated with the society. This is a reason why they need to be dealt with care
so that they are able to develop and move on after parental separation.
Summary
The above presented folio of secondary and primary information puts forward a comprehensive
view of the issue being the factors of parental separation that have an impact on the mental
health of adolescents. The issue is of social significance, as the impact of the parental
separation is apparent on the offspring. However, the reasons behind it are still clear. The
factors or reasons are of significance as it would enable therapists, divorce attorneys, family
consultants and parents all around the world to shield their children who are vulnerable to the
impact. The rising awareness towards the prevalence of mental illness and how most of the
disorders are triggered from experiences of the childhood has made this issue even urgent. The
home is a safe place for the children where they can unwind, nurture and grow. A conflict in this
setting where the child is at ease, is most associated with and spends a substantial amount of
time is going to have the greatest impact. Children are highly vulnerable as they are
impressionable creatures, experiences of the childhood are known to last a life time and frame
personality and attitude of the child.
Moreover, adolescence is a period of growth when changes are in abundance and the individual
is in confusion, they cannot come to terms with their speedy growth and bodily changes (Elam
et al. 2016). They begin to perceive the world differently. An issue of parental separation in this
period will have substantial impact on their life. Unlike the common belief, young children are
safe from parental separation and do not show any long-term complications. Whereas,
adolescents develop a long-term mental impact that changes how their social and emotional
aptitude.
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