How Divorce Affects Children’s Mental Health: What Maryland Parents Should Know

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Your Health Magazine Contributor

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How Divorce Affects Children’s Mental Health: What Maryland Parents Should Know

Divorce does not automatically harm a child’s mental health. How the separation is handled matters far more than the divorce itself. Research shows that children of divorce face higher rates of depression later in life. But new evidence suggests the biggest drivers are conflict, parental mental health struggles, and instability at home, not the legal end of a marriage.

For Maryland families, that’s an important distinction. It means parents have real influence over how their children cope. This guide covers what the research says, which warning signs to watch for, and how Maryland’s divorce process can protect children’s emotional health.

How Common Is Divorce in Maryland?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maryland recorded a divorce rate of 2.7 per 1,000 residents, against a marriage rate of 5.2 per 1,000. 

Maryland’s rate has drifted down over the past three decades, from 3.4 per 1,000 in 1990.

Behind those numbers are thousands of children each year adjusting to new routines, two households and changing family relationships. Many are in Howard and Anne Arundel counties, where suburban communities such as Columbia, Ellicott City and Glen Burnie are home to large numbers of young families.

Does Divorce Cause Depression in Children?

The short answer is that it’s more complicated than it looks.

A study published in Psychiatry Research in July 2026 analyzed survey data from more than 128,000 U.S. adults. It found that adults whose parents divorced had 41% higher odds of depression than those whose parents stayed married. But when researchers accounted for parental mental illness and substance use during childhood, that added risk almost disappeared.

In other words, the study suggests the challenges that often come with divorce shape long-term mental health more than the divorce itself. Those challenges include household conflict, a parent’s untreated depression and substance use.

That doesn’t mean divorce is easy on children. Many studies link parental separation to short-term increases in:

• Anxiety and worry about the future
• Sadness, withdrawal or irritability
• Sleep problems and changes in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating at school
• Behavioral problems, especially in younger children
• Loneliness and trouble with trust in relationships

The encouraging takeaway is that many of these effects can be reduced.

What Factors Make Divorce Harder on Children?

Research consistently points to several factors that raise a child’s risk of emotional struggles during and after divorce.

Ongoing Parental Conflict

Children exposed to repeated arguments, hostility or being put “in the middle” tend to struggle more than children whose parents separate calmly. Conflict that continues after the divorce can be more harmful than the separation itself.

Parental Mental Health and Substance Use

The 2026 findings highlight how much a parent’s mental health matters. When a parent’s depression, anxiety or substance use goes untreated, children absorb that stress. Getting support for yourself is one of the most protective things you can do for your child.

Instability and Repeated Changes

Frequent moves, school changes, unpredictable schedules and financial strain add stress at a time when children need consistency.

Loss of a Relationship With One Parent

Children generally do better when they keep meaningful relationships with both parents, unless safety concerns make that inappropriate.

Warning Signs Your Child May Be Struggling

Every child reacts differently, and some adjustment is normal. Talk to your pediatrician or a licensed child therapist if you notice:

• Persistent sadness or crying lasting more than a few weeks
• Withdrawal from friends, sports or activities they used to enjoy
• A sudden drop in grades or reluctance to attend school
• Regression in younger children, such as bedwetting or clinginess
• Anger, aggression or risk-taking in teenagers
• Frequent headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause
• Statements about feeling responsible for the divorce
• Any mention of self-harm, which needs immediate professional help

How Can Parents Protect a Child’s Mental Health During Divorce?

Tell Children Together, Simply and Honestly

When possible, both parents should explain the divorce together, using age-appropriate language. Reassure children that the divorce is not their fault and that both parents will keep loving them.

Keep Routines Predictable

Consistent bedtimes, school routines and activities give children a sense of control. Shared calendars can help co-parents stay aligned.

Keep Adult Conflict Away From Children

Avoid discussing legal disputes, finances or criticism of the other parent in front of your children. Don’t ask children to carry messages or choose sides.

Take Care of Your Own Mental Health

Counseling, support groups and treatment for depression or anxiety help parents stay emotionally available. That is one of the strongest protective factors the research identifies.

Consider Professional Support for Your Child

Child therapists, school counselors and pediatricians can help children process big changes. Many Maryland practices offer specialized family counseling.

How Maryland’s Divorce Process Affects Children

Maryland changed its divorce laws in October 2023, and the changes can reduce conflict for families. The state eliminated “limited divorce” and fault-based grounds such as adultery and cruelty. Couples can now file based on:

• Six-month separation, which no longer requires separate homes
• Irreconcilable differences
• Mutual consent, when spouses have a written settlement agreement resolving custody, support and property

Removing the need to prove fault means parents spend less time assigning blame, which can lower the temperature of the whole process.

When parents can’t agree on custody, Maryland courts decide based on the best interests of the child. Judges consider factors such as each parent’s ability to communicate and co-parent, the child’s relationship with each parent, stability and the child’s needs. Maryland Rule 9-204 also allows circuit courts to require parents in custody cases to attend a parenting seminar focused on helping children through divorce.

Choosing Legal Help That Considers Your Child’s Well-Being

The way parents handle the legal side of divorce affects the level of conflict children experience during the transition. When choosing a family lawyer, look beyond courtroom experience and examine how the attorney approaches custody, parenting schedules, negotiation, and disputes involving a child’s daily life.

A family lawyer should explain when negotiation supports a workable co-parenting relationship and when court intervention is necessary to address safety, stability, or unresolved custody issues. Local experience also matters because Maryland divorce and custody cases proceed through the state’s circuit courts.

For families in Howard County, a Columbia divorce lawyer at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. helps parents address separation agreements, custody terms, and parenting arrangements while determining whether disputed issues require court intervention. The firm’s stated approach is not to push every client toward settlement or trial, but to evaluate the appropriate course based on the client’s circumstances.

That distinction is especially important when children are involved. Negotiated parenting agreements provide a structured path for resolving custody issues when parents reach workable terms. Disputes involving safety, instability, or incompatible parenting arrangements require a different legal approach.

The objective is not simply to “win” a divorce. It is to establish legally workable arrangements that protect the child’s routine, relationships, and long-term stability.

At what age is divorce hardest on children?

There’s no single hardest age. Younger children may show regression and anxiety about separation, while teenagers may react with anger or withdrawal. Consistency and low conflict help at every age.

Is it better for children if parents stay together for their sake?

Not necessarily. Research suggests high-conflict households can be more harmful than a calm, well-managed separation.

Do Maryland courts consider a child’s mental health in custody decisions?

Yes. A child’s emotional, developmental and medical needs are part of the best-interest analysis.

When should my child see a therapist?

If symptoms such as sadness, anxiety or behavior changes last more than a few weeks or interfere with school and daily life, talk to your pediatrician or a licensed child mental health professional.

Maryland Divorce

Divorce is a major change, but it doesn’t have to define a child’s long-term mental health. Low conflict, stable routines, attention to your own mental health and early professional support make the biggest difference.