Ending a marriage or a long-term relationship brings many adjustments, and former partners can find themselves in the middle of confusing and overwhelming conflict. When children are involved, finding ways to manage and keep conflict at a minimum are essential. Whether their parents are married, separating, divorcing, or divorced, children react negatively to poorly managed conflict.
Research has documented the impact of parental conflict on children. Children experience extreme stress when one parent hurts the other physically and/or emotionally, when the conflict is about them, or when there is verbal aggression. Children are also stressed by unresolved fights and use of the silent treatment.
View the rest of the article on the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy website.