New Information About Divorce: What Researchers Know

Love is always changing. Trends come and go. Relationships heat up and fizzle out over time.

Data on marriages and relationships has changed in the past few decades. In the 1980s, when research about marriages was getting underway, there was not a lot of information about same-sex couples. But that has changed. Same-sex marriage was not legalized until 2015, so there was no way to accurately track these marriages back then.

However, there was a lot of data over the years regarding reproduction. Researchers had a lot of information about the ages at which married women had children. In the 1950s, the average woman would give birth to her first child at 21 years. By the 1980s, women had children later in life. Many worked outside the home and gained independence, increasing the average age to nearly 26 years old.

Research shows that the refined divorce rate in the United States is currently at 14.9 per 1,000 married women. While this data can tell us how many people (per 1,000) are getting divorced, it doesn’t tell us how many are getting married. It only accounts for the number of women who divorce.

Studies also show that the greatest predictors of divorce are infidelity, domestic abuse, and lack of commitment. Not surprisingly, infidelity significantly increases levels of marital conflict and often leads to separation and divorce. In some places, the rates of domestic violence are significantly higher than the rates of divorce. However, in response, there have been an increased number of divorces initiated by women. The more violent the domestic abuse, the more likely there is going to be a divorce.

Another interesting fact is that 40% of new marriages include a partner who Is remarrying.

Studies show that 20% of new marriages involve one partner who has been married before, while another 20% of marriages are second or third marriages for both partners. Interestingly, men who remarry often choose a spouse who is younger than the first one.

What is probably not surprising is that the more frequently you marry, the more likely you are to divorce. Subsequent marriages have the highest divorce rates. In fact, third marriages are less likely to last than second marriages. Although only 6% of marriages are third marriages, 73% end in divorce.

Some people have a type and this type does not usually change over time. They tend to marry or be in relationships with the same type of person. Women tend to pick men who are similar to their fathers. Both men and women tend to choose partners who physically resemble past partners and/or a parent. That’s because we are instinctively drawn to what is familiar to us.

Seek Legal Help

Marriages are hard. Some last only a few years, while others last forever. Why is this the case?

Many factors go into why couples divorce. If you are considering ending your marriage, contact  Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. We know how stressful divorce can be, but we’ll guide you through it. Call 954-764-4330 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation.

Source:

psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-venn-diagram-life/202411/5-things-we-know-about-divorce-today