TITLE:
Childhood Vulnerability during Divorce Processes: The Role of Professional Intervention
AUTHORS:
Susana Galván Ávila, Blanca Guadalupe Cid de León Bujanos, Francisca Elizabeth Pérez Tovar, Jacobo Herrera Rodríguez
KEYWORDS:
Divorce, Childhood, Vulnerability, Childhood Intervention, Ecological Systems Theory
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.8,
August
17,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study examines two contrasting variants of divorce process and their impact on children’s well-being. The study analyzes how professional intervention during divorce may influence children’s adjustment and reduce adverse developmental outcomes. A case study methodology was employed with two families undergoing divorce. One family sought professional guidance proactively to minimize the separation impact, while the second family experienced a high-conflict divorce process without structured intervention. Findings revealed that children exposed to guided and structured communication demonstrated greater emotional security and developmentally appropriate interpretations of family restructuring. In contrast, children exposed to conflictual dynamics without intervention expressed themes of guilt, abandonment, and emotional distress. Findings suggest early professional involvement may reduce children’s vulnerability during divorce. From this perspective, and by means of contrasting case studies, the objective is to examine how diverse family conditions, coping mechanisms, and the absence or presence of professional intervention intersect with the experience of child vulnerability during processes of family restructuring.