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The American Journal of Psychiatry, VOL. 124, No. 10

Articles | April 01, 1968

Parental Divorce in Early Childhood

JOHN F. MCDERMOTT

Am J Psychiatry 1968;124:1424-1432.

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Associate professor of psychiatry, University of Michigan School of Medicine, and director of inpatient services, Children's Psychiatric Hospital, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104, consulting psychiatrist, Children's Play School, Ann Arbor, Mich

1967-68, American Psychiatric Association

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Abstract

Although it is only the culmination of a more traumatic emotional upheaval in the family, the legal event of parental divorce presents acute problems for the very young child since it involves an abrupt change in his daily life. During the immediate period of parental divorce, ten of the 16 nursery school children discussed here showed dramatic changes in behavior, often characterized by impairment of the ability to master anxiety and depression through play. Preventive efforts channeled through the school at this time may ease the immediate shock for the child and help him to resume the normal tasks of maturation more quickly.

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