طلاق اور علیحدگی کے نفسیاتی، سماجی اور تعلیمی اثرات و مسائل: پاکستانی معاشرے میں بچوں کی فلاح و بہبود کا تنقیدی جائزہ

Psychological, Social, and Educational Impacts and Issues of Divorce and Separation: A Critical Study on Child Welfare in Pakistani Society

Abstract

Divorce and separation are critical social phenomena that have seen a significant rise in recent years, especially within developing societies such as Pakistan. These disruptions in family structures do not merely impact the couple involved but create lasting effects on children, who are often caught in emotional, psychological, and educational turmoil. This paper critically examines the psychological trauma, social challenges, and educational decline that children experience due to parental separation or divorce. The study highlights that children may suffer from anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, loss of self-confidence, and difficulty forming healthy relationships in the future. Educationally, children from broken families often demonstrate lower academic achievement, poor school attendance, and concentration problems. Socially, they may face isolation, stigma, and difficulty adjusting to new family settings. The study also explores how cultural taboos, lack of parental cooperation, inadequate legal frameworks, and financial instability further exacerbate the condition of affected children. In Pakistani society, where the extended family system is prevalent, the social response to divorce adds additional pressure on children. This research calls for a multidimensional approach, including legal reforms, psychological counseling, and awareness campaigns to mitigate the adverse effects on children. Emphasis is placed on the need for cooperative co-parenting, legal custody arrangements that prioritize child welfare, and institutional support systems. The study concludes that a proactive and compassionate societal response is essential to ensure that children of divorced or separated parents are not left emotionally scarred or socially marginalized.