Divorce Current divorce statistics About 50 of all marriages end in divorce The annual divorce rate is about 2 40 of children will experience the divorce of their parents before the age of 18 divorce contempt is key predictor of divorce its disrespect defensiveness in arguments is also a key predictor stonewalling another predictor which is just not saying anything problems in divorce research who is in the study comparison group Focusing on divorce as outcome instead of process Ability to pitch findings o 80 of young adults whose parents divorced when they were children experience no mental health problems o mental health problems in young adults is 30 greater for those whose parents divorced two approaches to studying divorce what causes divorce what are the effects of divorce perspective macro level causes societal social tolerance o both can be addressed from a macro and micro o movement from restricted divorce to divorce tolerance to unrestricted divorce growth in individualized marriage high employment rates for women continuation of historical trend micro level causes factors unique to a couple marital cohesion attractions in marriage things u like about partner barriers to getting out things that keep you in relationships ex religious beliefs available alternatives attractions empirically supported o similarity to partner o respect for spouse friendship o communication o definition of self in role barriers empirically sound o children o family history o religion religiosity o income available alternatives o employment women o education women the process of divorce unmaking of marriage occurs in many stages over a period of time there are four major stages events o emotional divorce one half of the couple is set on divorce o legal divorce o coparental divorce o economic divorce o they may overlap divorce and children the crisis period crisis period period during the first year or two after parents separate when both custodial parent and children experience difficulties dealing with the situation after the crisis period o majority of children resume normal development 6 years after the event divorce about 20 25 of young adolescents were displaying serious behavior problems
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