Research indicates that, on average, children who grow up in families with both their biological parents in a low-conflict marriage are better off in a number of ways than children who grow up in single-, step- or cohabiting-parent households.

Your Parent’s Relationship If your parents married others after divorcing, you’re 91 percent more likely to get divorced. Certain studies have shown that daughters of divorced parents have a 60 percent higher divorce rate in marriages than children of non-divorced parents while sons have a 35 percent higher rate.

5 Things to Say to a Child Whose Parents Are Getting a Divorce

• #1: That stinks! I am so sorry that you have to go through this.
• #2: I’m here for you.
• #3: It’s not your fault.
• #4: Things will never be same, but the pain and sadness will eventually lessen.
• #5: God still loves you and your family.

First, here are some general guidelines on how to approach the topic of divorce, listen, and give your children the reassurance that they need:

1. Give simple, factual explanations.
2. Present a unified front.
3. Encourage your child to share how he or she feels.
4. Explain that this change is best for the whole family.

While some divorces are necessary, many marriages can be repaired. It may be difficult to face the issues that you and your spouse are struggling with, but research suggests that couples who can manage to stay together usually end up happier down the road than couples who divorce.

What Is Emotional Divorce? Emotional divorce often precedes a legal divorce. It is a psychological mechanism some spouses use to separate their emotions from the marriage when they feel the relationship has become a threat to their well-being.

It’s actually relatively common to feel alone in a marriage: One in three married people over age 45 report being lonely, according to a 2018 AARP national survey. If you feel alone in a marriage, it’s often a sign that there’s an underlying issue in the relationship or in your own personal life that must be addressed.

Emotional intimacy refers to the ability to share your true thoughts and feelings with each other and feeling a sense of safety, comfort, and warmth with each other. Most marriages cannot function in a healthy way without this emotional intimacy.

Emotional neglect can be defined as a relationship pattern in which an individual’s affectional needs are consistently disregarded, ignored, invalidated, or unappreciated by a significant other.