What Are the Psychological Effects of Child Custody on the Child?

Imposed Arrangements

• Parents who have a split-custody agreement that was forced by court order are likely to have a "stressed" relationship. Janet R. Johnson, research head of The Center for the Family in Transition, found that the children of such arrangements, "Were more likely to be symptomatic or at high risk in terms of their behavioral, emotional, and social adjustment".

  In these cases, the children involved actually demonstrate a larger number of negative psychological effects if exposed more frequently to the noncustodial parent. This is because the attitude of the primary guardian has a considerable effect on the child's disposition. Children of parents who are ordered to share custody often absorb much of the chief caregiver's emotional distress. This can cause them to withdraw from social ties, become depressed and exhibit traditional symptoms of anxiety.

Choosing Sides

• Children, especially when very young, have a tendency to view circumstances from a "black-and-white" perspective. In part, this means that when two people are involved in a conflict, one must be "right" and the other "wrong". When draw into a custody battle, then, a child may choose sides as a way of lessening the situation's complexity. This may cause the child to become angry at, blame and act more aggressively toward the noncustodial parent. The child may also feel that this formally trusted parent has wronged her in some way, thereby developing a fear of expanding herself socially.

Fear of Uncertainty

• Losing one parent, in the home, can disrupt the sense of stability that is invaluable to a child. This may leave him feeling perpetually uncertain and fearful of events to come. To the child, being deprived of someone as meaningful as a parent puts every aspect of life into jeopardy. He may begin to dread losing other things of importance, such as friends, belongings and resources.

Sadness

• To a child, the removal of one parent may signify an entire loss of family. Viewing circumstances in this way dramatically alters her sense of self and belonging. The child may respond just as one would to the death of a caregiver. It is often expected that a child will adjust over time. However, she may need to pass through some sort of "grieving process", to accommodate the change successfully.