Skip to main content

Ask Dr. Ana: How Does Divorce Affect Kids Differently?

Dr. Ana answers how a divorce might affect small children differently, based on their gender—delving right into the ongoing debate.

|
Updated: April 29, 2025
Divorce ruling
|
Updated: April 29, 2025

Question:

How does a divorce affect young boys and girls differently? 

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

This question has not been examined much by researchers in the last few years. Girls and boys tend to cope differently with divorce, rather than one gender coping better than the other. The impact of divorce depends on many factors such as age, personality, parental support, or the level of conflict between the parents.  

Most children, regardless of whether they are boys or girls, do worse in the months following parental divorce. However, most boys and girls are doing reasonably well by the second or third year after the divorce. Only around 25% of children of divorced parents experience long-term problems.  

You can read more about this topic in this recent article discussing divorce. 

If you are going through a divorce, and would like some support, get in touch with me.  

Regards,  

Ask Dr. Ana: How Can I Remove Parental Responsibility from an Unfit Father?

Question: How to remove parental responsibility from father if he is unfit? What proof do I need as a now single mother? His parents are making this so hard and I don’t have any family myself to help with advice Dr. Ana’s Answer: I am very sorry that you are in this situation. It must be very tough for you.   Read More

Ana 

Dr Ana Aznar 

Do you have questions for Dr. Ana? Ask for free today!



Related content:

Dr. Ana Aznar

About Ana

Dr. Ana Aznar is the founder of REC Parenting. She is a psychologist with a passion to support… Read more

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe