Just like a divorce can have devastating effects on a child, so can marital conflict. If your home is constantly filled with tension and disagreement, your child may be at a higher risk for depression. One reason for this is that parents get so caught up in their arguments that the children's reactions and feelings get neglected. Unfortunately, sometimes the focus of the argument is on the child and how to parent him. If a child is aware of this and thinks he is to blame for some reason, he will begin to feel guilty and angry and ultimately develop symptoms of depression.

Minimizing the Damage

To minimize the effect that your conflicts have on your child, do not pretend that you and your spouse never have fights. Not only is this unreasonable and silly, but it is also demeaning to your child. Children are not stupid, and they understand that conflict is occurring within their home. It's also perfectly acceptable to have arguments, and a child can learn how to handle his own conflict by observing how his parents behave.

Not all disagreements have to be voiced in front of your child, however. Normal, run-of-the-mill spats are appropriate to have when the children are present. In matters that are more serious or involve more adult material, help your child understand that you will be having that discussion time behind closed doors. Explain to him that there is nothing to worry about but that these conversations are for the grownups.