Those who are securely attached are not necessarily pleased with the geographical
separation of a
long -
distance relationship, but they can handle it emotionally, suggests Susan Krauss Whitbourne, professor of psychology,
in her «Psychology Today» article «Love from Afar: Staying Close While You Live Apart.»
However (despite the fact that I know a lot of parents
in long distance relationships are doing it tougher than I am) these latest
separations have still had their raw, lonely, exhausted, resentful moments.
Parental
separation may also expose children to loss of social, economic and human capital.4, 14 Other explanatory factors may derive from characteristics typical of separating parents such as lower
relationship satisfaction and higher conflict levels also before the
separation.4 The rising numbers of children with JPC have concerned child clinicians as well as researchers on the subject.20, 21 Child experts have worried about children's potential feelings of alienation from living
in two separate worlds, 20 — 22 increased exposure to parental conflict12, 22 and other stressors that JPC may impose on a child.22 Such daily stressors may be
long distances to school, friends and leisure activities, lack of stability
in parenting and home environment and a need to adjust to the demands of two different family lives.12, 22 The logistics of travelling between their homes and keeping
in contact with friends has been stated as a drawback of JPC
in interview studies with children.23 — 25 Older adolescents,
in particular, indicated that they preferred to be
in one place.23