Children of divorced and separated parents: summary and review of findings from a long-term follow-up study in the UK.

As divorce and separation rates continue to rise it is likely that problems among the children of such parents will also continue to increase. The nature of short term problems for the children of separating parents are well known. There is now evidence of a risk of longer term difficulties which may be the result of a chain of circumstances which begins close in time to the separation and divorce. Long term as well as short term risks should therefore be considered in planning care strategies for the children of divorcing parents.