Introduction
During adolescence, physical, emotional, and social maturation occur rapidly. Adolescents spend this time figuring out who they are and where they fit in the world. Pressures from school, romance, and society all affect adolescents, and divorce complicates adolescence, a time of loss, upheaval, and uncertainty. They feel fury, grief, and perplexity, and are concerned about their parent-child relationships and future.
The parents should inform their children about the divorce. Adolescents should understand that their parents’ divorce is not their fault. Adolescents require reassurance that their parents love and support them unconditionally, which parents can supply by being sensitive to and understanding their children’s emotional needs. Parents may advise their adolescent child to seek professional counseling if they are having difficulties processing their feelings and adjusting to their new normal following their parents’ divorce. When parents divorce, their lives change and suffer negative consequences, but they can recover with the aid of their parents and other loved ones.
Description of the Difficulty
Adolescents, who are still developing emotionally and socially, may have a more difficult time adjusting to life after divorce. Teens whose parents have split may experience grief and struggle to adjust to their new normal. Negative emotions include anger, sadness, perplexity, and worry, among others. Adolescents may also struggle academically and socially, harming their relationships with family and friends.
In South Africa, more than a quarter of married couples divorce, a rate unusually high compared to the rest of the world, posing a severe challenge to society (Smock & Schwartz, 2020). Divorce occurs for various reasons in South Africa. Poverty, inequality, substance misuse, infidelity, and domestic violence are all factors that contribute to South Africa’s high divorce rate.
Children’s exposure to parental disagreement is a significant risk factor for divorce (Jennings et al., 2018). When young children hear their parents argue, they are more likely to have emotional distress, behavioral issues, and academic challenges. Depression and anxiety are two mental health problems linked to parental conflict and divorce during childhood.
Adolescents’ ability to deal with the difficulties of divorce is due to various contextual factors, including those contributing to South Africa’s high divorce rate. For example, societal conventions and norms significantly shape how teenagers and their families view divorce. Children of divorced parents may encounter prejudice and rejection in some cultures. South African adolescents face substantial hardships due to the country’s legal system (Smock & Schwartz, 2020). It is challenging for families to navigate the legal processes involved in a divorce when the judicial system is slow and unresponsive.
Adolescents going through a divorce may be affected by poverty since children from broken families often struggle because poverty restricts their access to services and support. Divorce has been linked to unfavorable effects such as academic issues and behavioral disorders, especially among low-income children(Basu & Banerjee, 2020). As a result, children and families may experience setbacks and additional stress.
Divorce is difficult for adolescents and is a huge social problem in South Africa due to its high occurrence. Divorce can be especially tough on teenagers, who may experience various negative emotions and challenges as they struggle to adjust to the loss and change it entails. Economic hardship, societal unfairness, substance abuse, extramarital affairs, and domestic violence are contributing factors to South Africa’s increased divorce rate (Jennings et al., 2018). Adolescents’ aversion to divorce is due to contextual factors, including cultural norms and beliefs, legal processes, and poverty. Adolescents may require interventions that provide them with resources and instruction on how to address these issues.
Theoretical Context of the Problem in Adolescent Development
Adolescents’ sense of self and identity varies as their bodies, minds, and social environments change. The ability to think abstractly, rationally, and from multiple perspectives indicates mature cognitive development. Emotional growth includes self-control, emotional awareness, and empathy. Divorce can have long-term effects on teenage development, affecting both cognitive and emotional development (Basu & Banerjee, 2020). Family disintegration and the accompanying upheaval in the adolescent’s living situation can be excruciatingly unpleasant. All of these possibilities exist in rejection, dread, and future anxiety.
Concentration problems and poor academic achievement are only two ways these emotional events might affect brain development. Divorce makes it harder to maintain strong relationships with classmates and family members. Adolescents must be resilient in the face of all obstacles and sorrows. Resilience is the ability to persevere in adversity and emerge. Strong family and peer interactions, along with a sense of meaning and purpose, are protective factors that contribute to adolescent resilience.
Teenagers who have experienced divorce may benefit from resilience-building exercises. These programs aim to teach individuals how to cope with adversity, interact positively with others, and find meaning in their lives (Stone & Schaefer, 2020). These programs aim to help children gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the tools they need to cope with adversity. According to ecological systems theory, a person’s growth is due to their microsystem, mesosystem, and macrosystem (Evans, 2023). This strategy’s interventions aim to improve communication across numerous structures to accelerate progress.
The cognitive-behavioral approach is another strategy for determining the best way to intervene. According to this hypothesis, a person’s negative feelings and attitude toward life might influence their actions and vice versa. This concept-based solution aims to replace negative thought and feeling patterns with more positive ones.
Divorce can have a profound impact on the mental, emotional, and social development of adolescents. Stone and Schaefer (2020) note that resilience-building programs for divorced adolescents may be beneficial. Adolescent resilience programs may benefit from theoretical frameworks such as ecological systems theory and cognitive-behavioral theory. Adolescent resilience and the ability to cope with adversity are achieved through therapy that focuses on coping skills, healthy relationships, and building a sense of purpose and meaning.
Conceptualizing an Intervention Plan
Adolescents who have experienced loss and transition due to a divorce will benefit from the intervention plan’s emphasis on resilience building. This strategy is based on cognitive-behavioral theory, which emphasizes the need to be aware of and reframe damaging thinking habits. The six-week individual therapy sessions boost resiliency, establish healthy social connections, and impart a sense of meaning and purpose. Resources such as schools, social workers, and mental health specialists should be accessed if a divorce has impacted a teen’s life.
Parents can demonstrate their support for the program and encourage their children to participate to aid with recruiting. The intervention will occur in a secure, non-public setting, such as a clinic or therapist’s office. Each 60-minute session will occur once a week for the next six weeks. The intervention is short enough to fit into teens’ hectic schedules but long enough for participants to learn and practice new skills.
As an interventionist, I will be critical to assisting teenagers and achieving a positive outcome. The interventionist or therapist should be a registered mental health professional specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy and having much experience working with teenagers. I will schedule a one-on-one consultation to learn more about the client’s predicament and brainstorm possible solutions. My services include guiding the affected teenagers through challenging situations.
In addition, I will assist them in reconnecting with loved ones, learning to communicate properly, and discovering their life’s purpose. I intend to use a variety of tactics to build teen resilience. One such strategy is cognitive restructuring, which entails retraining one’s thinking to be more positive and beneficial. Another option is relaxation training, which teaches people to calm their bodies and minds to manage stressful events and challenging emotions. In addition, I will use role-playing games to educate and reinforce healthy engagement and issue-solving approaches.
Adolescent clients can be challenging to recruit for intervention plans because they may be averse to participating in activities that they see as intrusive or unnecessary. To overcome this barrier, I would use a variety of approaches to attract potential volunteers and acquire their trust and cooperation. Reaching out to organizations such as schools, community groups, and mental health clinics is one way to identify potential participants and build relationships with key stakeholders. I would use social media and other online platforms to contact potential participants and their families about the intervention. Finally, I would do everything possible to ensure that the intervention considers the cultural backgrounds of the people it is intended to assist and is tailored to their specific needs and experiences. Effective communication, organized outreach, and a commitment to the wants and needs of prospective participants and their families will all contribute to the overall success of the recruiting process.
The intervention technique will begin with an initial evaluation in which I will learn more about the intervention subject’s history, current status, and special needs. I will then develop a strategy for the participant based on their specific situation and objectives. I will check in with the participant throughout the intervention to monitor progress and make any necessary program changes. There is evidence that cognitive-behavioral therapy can aid in helping adolescent divorce victims recover from the pain of loss and instability. By improving coping skills, positive relationships, and a sense of purpose and meaning, interventions can help children navigate difficult situations and build bright futures.
The goal of the intervention is to help adolescents who have gone through a divorce recover from the losses and adjustments they have had to make. The intervention aims to boost resilience, foster social connections, and give people meaning and purpose (Sorek, 2019). Effective communication, conflict resolution, and the creation of limits are the foundations of happy partnerships. Participants will consider their values, interests, and ambitions to chart a path for their futures and increase their feeling of purpose and meaning.
I intend to employ various ideas and approaches to help the affected teenagers become resilient. Participants will be guided to recognize unproductive beliefs, reject them, and replace them with healthier, more useful ones using the cognitive-behavioral therapy approach. As a stress-management and emotional-control approach, teaching is vital.
Role-playing games also increase engagement and problem-solving abilities. Participants will openly communicate their thoughts and feelings throughout the intervention because it will be a friendly, safe environment. An interventionist will lead the sessions in a separate, silent area to maintain privacy. The intervention would last as long as the participants deemed necessary and could be conducted in either individual or group sessions. Participants must work with me to implement the intervention processes and achieve the desired effects.
The intervention will establish trust and provide a safe environment for the teen to discuss their concerns. The intervention will then focus on helping the client learn to manage stressful situations, build positive relationships, and find meaning in life. I will use cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, role-playing exercises, and psychoeducation. Since the intervention will take place in a private setting, the needs and goals of each individual will be taken into account.
Obeid et al. (2021) highlight that cognitive-behavioral therapy can support adolescents who have experienced parental divorce in coping with feelings of loss and insecurity. Programs that focus on building coping strategies, fostering healthy relationships, and cultivating a sense of purpose can be particularly helpful. The intervention is designed to be long enough for participants to practice new skills, yet concise enough to fit into adolescents’ busy schedules.
Potential Outcome of the Intervention
Interventions targeted at developing resilience in divorced youth have shown potential in the study. According to Obeid et al. (2021), interventions that increase coping skills, supportive social networks, and a strong sense of meaning and purpose can help people become resilient. Stone and Schaefer (2020) emphasize that cognitive behavioral therapy is beneficial in treating depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescent patients. As a result, the previously suggested intervention technique is conceptually and practically sound.
The intervention is likely to help the adolescents who participate. Through this program, participants may develop excellent resiliency, interpersonal skills, and a sense of purpose. Adolescents who have developed coping skills can better deal with stress, control their emotions, and overcome hardship(Sandler et al., 2019). Participants may benefit from improved connections with family, friends, and peers by learning to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts. They may grow more invested in school and their future as they better understand their objectives and abilities.
Divorce has been associated with higher rates of sadness, anxiety, and educational issues in adolescents, but this intervention may assist in lessening these risks. Adolescents may benefit from the intervention because it focuses on resilience, enhancing their ability to cope and even thrive in the face of adversity. The intervention’s ultimate goal is to build resilient individuals capable of navigating the complexities of adolescent development and the challenges of adulthood.
Building Resilience in Children and Adolescents
Resilience can be assessed by how successfully a person recovers from failures, trauma, or stress. Resilience must be taught to children and teenagers so they can face adversity and grow stronger. Sandler et al. (2019) note that young people who can recover from failures perform better in various areas, including academics, friendships, and mental health.
Children and adolescents can be taught to be resilient by encouraging positive thinking, teaching them coping mechanisms, and providing a reason to live. To develop resilience, children and teenagers need trusting connections with adults and peers. A growth mindset is one way to enhance people’s self-esteem and confidence. Problem-solving, relaxation, and emotion management skills are vital for helping children and teenagers cope with stressful situations. Meaning and motivation may be developed by focusing on children’s and teenagers’ interests.
These techniques have been shown to increase resilience in children and adolescents. Adolescents’ mental health improves when they get along with their caregivers and classmates (Basu & Banerjee, 2020). Teenagers in programs that teach coping skills and promote positive self-talk have also been associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression. It has been demonstrated that encouraging youngsters to make unique contributions to the world boosts their happiness and academic success. When young people are taught to build resilience, they are more likely to achieve positive outcomes and thrive in adversity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the theoretical and empirical foundations of the proposed divorce intervention strategy for adolescents experiencing loss and change in this essay are solid. Learning coping skills, making supportive connections, emphasizing the importance of finding one’s place in the world, and engaging in cognitive-behavioral therapy are all part of the plan’s resilience theme. This program’s efforts are likely to increase participants’ coping skills, social connections, and a sense of purpose, and they are less likely to suffer the negative consequences of adolescent divorce. Overall, it is critical to help children and adolescents develop resilience so they can achieve academic, social, and mental health goals. Positive relationships, self-talk, coping skills, and a sense of meaning and purpose are just a few strategies that have been shown to increase resilience.
I advocate for more studies into the efficacy of resilience-building therapies for children and adolescents who have endured a divorce and other loss and change. Parents, schools, and mental health experts can help youth develop resilience by employing evidence-based practices and fostering a positive, encouraging environment. This study aims to explain a divorce intervention technique found to help young people cope with loss and transition. If this intervention enhances participants’ coping abilities, connections, and sense of purpose, they may be better equipped to deal with adversity and thrive.
References
Basu, S., & Banerjee, B. (2020). Impact of environmental factors on Mental Health of children and adolescents: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 119, 105515.
Evans, O. G. (2023). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Simply Psychology.
Jennings, E. A., Mkhwanazi, N., & Berkman, L. (2018). Receipt of emotional support among rural South African adults. Ageing and Society, 40(5), 1039–1063.
Obeid, S., Al Karaki, G., Haddad, C., Sacre, H., Soufia, M., Hallit, R., Salameh, P., & Hallit, S. (2021). Association between parental divorce and mental health outcomes among Lebanese adolescents: Results of a national study. BMC Pediatrics, 21(1), 455.
Sandler, I., Wolchik, S., Mazza, G., Gunn, H., Tein, J.-Y., Berkel, C., Jones, S., & Porter, M. (2019). Randomized Effectiveness Trial of the new beginnings program for divorced families with children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 49(1), 60–78.
Smock, P. J., & Schwartz, C. R. (2020). The Demography of Families: A Review of patterns and change. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 9–34.
Sorek, Y. (2019). Children of divorce evaluate their quality of life: The moderating effect of Psychological Processes. Children and Youth Services Review, 107, 104533.
Stone, J., & Schaefer, C. E. (2020). Game play therapy: Therapeutic use of games with children and adolescents. John Wiley & Sons Inc.