About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

15 J. Am. Acad. Matrimonial Law. 119 (1998)
The Psychological Effects of Relocation for Children of Divorce

handle is hein.journals/jaaml15 and id is 131 raw text is: Psychological Effects of Relocation The Psychological Effects of Relocation for Children of Divorce by Marion Gindes, Ph.D.t I. Introduction The divorce of parents significantly undermines their chil- dren's sense of security and stability. The two people upon whom the child is dependent are no longer equally accessible to the child and the foundation of the child's world is splintered. From the child's perspective, the best of all possible worlds, after parental divorce, includes parents who are amicable, do not display overt hostility, can communicate with each other about the child, and live close enough to each other so that child can have the same playmates when with either parent.1 These condi- tions maximize the potential for the child developing strong, pos- itive relationships with both parents as well as for both parents' involvement in the child's school and extracurricular activities and for frequent and regular contact with the nonresidential parent. When a residential or custodial parent, then, seeks to move to a different geographic region, that best possible post-divorce scenario for children is threatened. The wish to relocate poses the most dramatic example of the conflicting needs and wishes of parents and children and of the conflicting needs and wishes of custodial and noncustodial parents. For the most part, children do not wish to leave the environment in which they live nor do they wish to leave their noncustodial parent, who also does not want them to go. Parent and child relocation, which has become a major problem facing mental health and legal professionals, is, however, inevitable in a mobile society. t Psychologist in private practice in New York City and Larchmont, New York. 1 Michael E. Lamb et al, The Effects of Divorce and Custody Arrange- ments on Children's Behavior, Development, and Adjustment, 35 FAM. & CON- CILIATION CTS. REV. 393 (1997); Joan B. Kelly, The Best Interest of the Child: A Concept in Search of Meaning, 35 FAM. & CONCILIATION Crs. REV. 377 (1997). Vol. 15, 1998

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most