Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Please cite this article in press Talia Arshad et al., Effect of Parental Separation on Mental Health Status of
Children of Age 6-16 Years, Coming to Psychiatry Ward of Public Sector Hospitals, Lahore., Indo Am. J. P. Sci,
2018; 05(08).
Please select the response (never,sometimes,often) that best describes the child now or within past six months.
Choose from the options; not at all, a little, a lot, for following questions.
■ How well does he/she get along with his/her grand parents not at all A little A lot
and siblings?
■ Does he have any hobbies or takes part in any sports? not at all A little A lot
PIE CHART
to recognize the mental effects of parental separation thirds (62.3%) of such children feel worthless or
as these are the hidden changes; physical aspects are inferior. In addition, more than two-thirds (69.4%)
always eminent and easy to recognize. We have used have seen their grades falling over the past 2
38 variables associated with mental health in our months.This study has found 11.2% don’t learn
testing. In our research parents of 36.08% were anything at school and 14.3% don’t take part in
divorced, parents of 35.05% were abroad and parents sports or other activities.About 65.3%have difficulty
of 28.84% were deceased. in making friends and 62.2% does not play with other
childrenand 51% are disobedient in school.
Our analysis shows that most children (81.7%)
become bad-tempered, moody or irritable as an Other studies show children from divorced /
outcome of parental disunion. This is in sharp separated parents showed lower self-esteem and
contrast to an Albanian study carried out in 2015 in conduct issues, lower academic test scores and school
which 78% of the respondents felt relieved as they grades [18]. These children obtained less education,
got rid of parental infighting [12]. However, a earned less income, had greater risk of depression
common thing exists between these two studies i.e. and poor physical health [6]. They also had problems
33.7% of children in our inquiry have trouble in in their own marriages when they grew up as
interacting with others. In Albanian study, 34% consequences of parental divorce persisted in
children never told anyone about parental separation adulthood [6]. Two USA articles published in 2014
[12]. measured child well-being status by adjusting for
other variables like effects and causes of separation /
An unexpected and terrifying aspect is unveiled in divorce e.g. financial status, parental attitude etc
our study which must be brought into public notice [6,14]. However, our study didn’t account for much
immediately is that 30.6% of the children interviewed of these variables as our primary objective was to
have suicidal thoughts because they were mentally explore the outcomes of parental separation as a
tortured during their parent’s fights. Moreover, whole.
almost a third of the children (32.7%) deliberately
harm themselves. These aspects are hardly noticed by LIMITATIONS:
their parents or siblings. Only their best friends have Because most of the children who filled in the
some idea about it. It is quite possible that we have questionnaire for this study are students of private
underestimated these figures and much more children schools, there may be a selection bias. This study
who are the victims of parental discord have suicidal doesn’t consider street children, child laborers, nature
intentions. A Turkish study also highlighted that of parental occupation and hardly considers children
parental factors amplified the menace of suicide in government schools. All these factors are highly
among young people [16]. likely to affect the outcome of this research
especially in a developing country like Pakistan. For
Divorce introduces a great deal of stress into the lives a better analysis, a wider study is needed which
of adults and children. According to a study, almost should compare the data with that of normal children.
10% of normal adolescents showed deterioration in
health at some point in their lives; but in the case of CONCLUSION:
kids with divorced parents, one-fourth of the boys The hypothesis that parental separation would affect
and one-third of the girls showed declined in mental status of children negatively resulting in
health.Parental death, like parental divorce was emotional disturbances was supported. So, there is a
followed by decline in child’s well-being .6 Two- need of proper counselling of the children to make
parent households can be disrupted for reasons other them understand the circumstances of separation. In
than parental divorce & death. International addition to that, the platforms of print, electronic and
migration of one parentin order to obtain employment social media should be employed to spread awareness
was associated with lower academic achievements in on this subject. Public should be made aware of the
children left in home country [6]. Moreover, there drastic effects that an unstable familial environment
was also substantial increase in psychological brings to the mental well-being of children.
problems among children [6]. Our research also
shows similar results. In our study 66.4% have REFERENCES:
disturbed sleep, 69.4% have changes in appetite and 1 Process. 2010 March. Vol, 49 (1): Pages 92-108.
69.4% have unusual complains of tiredness.In 1. Rao I. Divorce rates climb [internet. Pakistan
addition, more than two-thirds (69.4%) have seen today. 2011 [cited 2017Sept 17]. Available from;
their grades falling over the past 2 months. Our
current probe also demonstrates that almost two-