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In marriages with a lot of conflict, “staying together for the kids” might do more harm than good, a new study suggests.

Children of parents who fight a lot yet stay married experience more conflict in their own adult relationships than children of parents who fight and do get a divorce.

“The basic implication is, ‘Don’t stay together for the sake of the children if you’re in a high conflict marriage,'” said study researcher Constance Gager, of Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Relationship surveys

Some studies have shown children of divorced parents are more likely to get a divorce themselves, but it was not completely clear whether it was the divorce itself or the parents’ conflict that had the greater impact on a child’s relationships.

via Divorce Not Always Bad for Kids | LiveScience.