Conflict between divorced parents can worsen kids' mental health, study finds Experts worry about how these kinds of arguments affect kids’ stress levels 01/15/2021 Photo (c) Goodboy Picture Company - Getty ImagesDivorce can be a major source of physical and mental stress for consumers, and a new study has explored how kids of divorced parents are affected by this change in the family dynamic. According to researchers from Arizona State University, kids are more likely to struggle with mental health concerns when their divorced or separated parents are frequently arguing. “Conflict is a salient stressor for kids, and the link between exposure to interparental conflict and mental health problems in children is well established across all family types -- married, cohabitating, separated, and divorced,” said researcher Karey O’Hara.