<p>
	Children and teenagers whose parents have divorced say their exam grades suffer and they are driven to drink or drugs or feel pressure to get involved in the break-up, according to new research released in the UK.</p>
<p>
	Around one in five young people surveyed in a ComRes poll commissioned by family lawyers&rsquo; association Resolution said their exam results suffered as a result of a family breakdown.</p>
<p>
	Two-thirds said their GCSE results were affected and 44% struggled with their A-Levels as a result, while 15% were disrupted by having to move schools.</p>
<p>
	Many even said their health was affected, as 28% said they changed their eating habits in the wake of a split. around 14% said they had started to drink alcohol, while 13% admitted experimenting with drugs</p>
<p>
	The figures, released to mark the start of Family Dispute Resolution Week, also show more than one in 4 said their parents tried to involve them in the dispute.</p>
<p>
	Jo Edwards, chairman of Resolution, which represents 6,500 family law professionals in England and Wales said 100,000 children a year saw their parents divorce.</p>
<p>
	She said: &ldquo;These new findings show the wide-ranging impact of divorce and separation on young people.</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;It underlines just how important it is that parents going through a split manage their separation in a way that minimises the stress and impact on the entire family, especially children, otherwise their exam results could suffer. Divorce and separation is always traumatic, but there is a better way to deal with it.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	Molly Baker, 16, from Sheffield, was seven when her parents decided to split up, although their divorce was not finalised until three years ago.</p>
<p>
	She said: &ldquo;The divorce affected my primary education because I would get taken out of lessons to talk to teachers about how I was feeling or about what was happening now in the proceedings, which meant I missed out on time in class.</p>
<p>
	&ldquo;As I got older it became easier to focus just on school work and receive the correct support and understanding in secondary education.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	ComRes surveyed 4,031 UK adults and 500 young people with experience of parental separation or divorce aged between 14 and 22.</p>
<p>
	Resolution pointed to a variety of ways to solve divorce disputes, including mediation or arbitration, which, aided by solicitors, could be &ldquo;quick and cost effective&rdquo;.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/research-reveals-divorce-can-drive-children-to-drink-and-drugs-652122.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/research-reveals-divorce-can-drive-children-to-drink-and-drugs-652122.html</a></p>
