Being part of a single parent family can have far reaching emotional effects on children.

CHILDREN are psychologically affected by the quality of their parent’s relationship and if their parent’s marriage breaks down, children can be left with emotional scars, Daw Kathy Naing, a senior lecturer with the Psychology Department of Yangon University said.

Daw Kathy Naing said that as divorce involves so many variables, ranging from an amicable break-up when a child is young to a violent dispute between the parents of adult children, people react to their parent’s divorce in different ways.

“Young children are affected more adversely than older children and it seems that divorce has more of a negative effect on boys than on girls,” Daw Kathy Naing said.

“While adolescents are able to understand the reasons for their parent’s divorce, they often worry a lot about the effects of the separation on their future,” she said.

Engineer, Ko Ko Maung, 24, has lived with his mother since his parents divorced when he was one-years-old. Ko Ko Maung said when he was young he did not understand the reasons behind the divorce and he was confused over why his father lived in a different house. His mother and relatives spoke badly about his father until Ko Ko Maung was so angry that he refused to accept his father’s gifts.

“My mum tries to fulfill my every need and she tries not to notice that I want to have my father’s love,” Ko Ko Maung said.

“When I see another father holding his child’s hand, I feel something. I don’t feel sad. I can’t describe exactly what I feel,” he said.

Daw Kathy Naing said some of the pain that results from divorce is derived from people outside the family. Children of divorced parents may feel that others are looking down on them when they compare themselves to other families.

University graduate, Ma Khin Hnin, said she often feels dejected when she sees her friends with their parents, as hers are no longer married.

“I come from a broken family and some of my relatives look down on me,” Ma Khin Hnin said.

Ma Khin Hnin said after she and her two siblings were born, her parents became unable to tolerate each other and they split-up.

“I didn’t feel too strongly about it when my parents broke-up because I was only 11, but things have gotten harder and my brother and sister and I were very unhappy when my father decided to remarry,” she said.

“Although my mother looks after us well, we all wish that we had both parents with us. On the other hand I am lucky because my brother and sister are always there to encourage me.”

Daw Kathy Naing said there was often pressure on the children of divorced parents, not to follow in their parents footsteps.

Housewife, Ma Win Hlaing, 20, said that when she was a teenager she tried to forget her parents divorce and the problems in her home life by spending time with a boyfriend. Her father was extremely strict as he did not want her to make the same mistakes he had.

Ma Win Hlaing married when she was 19 to a boyfriend she said she became increasingly emotionally dependent on. Her family did not approve of the marriage and do visit her and her child.

Despite the negative consequences of divorce, Daw Kathy Naing said there is strong evidence to show children of one-parent families are often more independent and resourceful than other children, and are better equipped to take on responsibility and decision making.

“Children from divorced families are often better equipped to deal with relationship problems and family stress,” Daw Kathy Naing said.