Research consistently shows that ongoing parental conflict is a stronger predictor of negative outcomes in adolescents than the divorce itself. A review published by the National Institutes of Health found that children and teens exposed to high levels of interparental hostility, whether parents are married or divorced, are at greater risk for emotional and behavioral problems. Researchers found that children in single parents homes are twice as likely to have emotional problems, though conflict and instability remain key drivers of that risk. Reducing conflict and shielding your teenager from disagreements may be the single most protective step you can take.