Divorce Rates & GenderTrends in the United States

Introduction To Family StudiesGroup #1 Max Webers

Lauren Ascolese: ascolesel1@mail.montclair.eduLauren Bishopp: bishoppl1@mail.montclair.edu

Samantha Boczon: boczons1@mail.montclair.edu

Introduction

How many Americans marriages end in divorce?

One in two marriages (Hurley, 2005) 20 % in the United States first marriages ends in separation or divorce, with the highest during the first five years of marriage. (Bronson, Merryman)Number of marriages: 2,077,000Marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 total populationDivorce rate: 3.4 per 1,000 population (44 reporting States and D.C.)

Source: Content source: CDC/National Center for Health Statistics (2010)

Hypothesis

We expect that in the United States that women are at a higher risk of divorce than men.We believe this to be true because women are less likely to be happier than men in marriage.The most common reason women give for leaving their husbands is "mental cruelty." When legal grounds for divorce are stated, about half report they have been emotionally abused. (Harley, Jr., Ph.D.)

Introduction & Hypothesis

Outcome variableRate of divorce

Demographic VariableGender

Gender is a demographic characteristic that may be related to divorce rates in America.

Years studied: 1950’s- 2001

Divorce Data

According to National Vital Statistics System in Divorce rates:

In 2000 Divorce rate is at its highest with a 4.0 per 1,000 total population

In 2009 Divorce rate is at its lowest with a 3.5 per 1,000 total population

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/marriage_divorce_tables.htm

Divorce Data

According to the National Center for Health Statistics 2003:

In every 1,000 people there are 7.5 marriages and 3.8 divorces

About 60 percent of all marriages that eventually end in divorce do so within the first 10 years

Source: http://www.divorcereform.org/nyt05.html

Gender Data

In 1950 the divorce rate:For men 1.07 percentFor women 1.373 percent

In 1996 the divorce rate:For men 35- 39 years was 25.9 percent.For women in the same age group was 29.5 percent.

In 2001 the highest divorce rate:For men in the late 50’s was 41 percent.For women in the same age group was 39 percent.

Gender Data

Top reasons why American women said they'd gotten divorced –

communication problems (69.7 percent)unhappiness (59.9 percent)incompatible with spouse (56.4 percent)emotional abuse (55.5 percent)financial problems (32.9 percent)sexual problems (32.1 percent)spouse's alcohol abuse (30.0 percent)spousal infidelity (25.2 percent) physical abuse (21.7 percent)

source: http://www.pobronson.com/factbook/pages/227.html

Gender Data

Women show better emotional adjustment after divorce because they are more likely to see themselves as the initiator. (Chiriboga & Cutler, 1977; Zeiss, Zeiss, & Johnson,1980).

Men on the other hand are more often overcome by the divorce, showing poorer adjustment and greater morbidity (Bloom & White & Asher, 1979; Friedman et al.,1995; Riessman & Gerstel, 1985).

Source: Family Relations © 1996 National Council on Family Relations

Divorce Rates By Gender

0102030405060708090

100

1950 1996 2001

Men

Women

Both

Results

How has the divorce rate change over time?

In the 1950’s divorce wasn’t common therefore the rate was very low for both genders.

In the early part of United States history, there weren't any divorces, simply because there was no legal way that a couple could end their marriage.

Over time for both genders the divorce rate has significantly increased.

Discussion

Our hypothesis was supported by various national data sources and research.

We found that in our data that women tend to get divorced more then men.

“According to a study published in the American Law and Economics Review, women currently file slightly more than two-thirds of divorce cases in the United States.”

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY Divorce. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2010, from The Fact book: Eye opening Memos on Everything Family: http://www.pobronson.com/factbook/pages/227.html

Hurley, D. (2005, April 19). Divorce Rate: Its Not As High As You Think. (The New York Times) Retrieved April 18, 2010, from http://www.divorcereform.org/nyt05.html

Marriage & Divorce. (2010, October 5). (National Center for Health Statistics) Retrieved April 18, 2010, from Centers for Disease and Control Prevention: National Marriage and Divorce Rate Trends

National Marriage and Divorce Rate Trends. (2011, March 7). (National Center for Health Statistics ) Retrieved April 18, 2011, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/marriage_divorce_tables.htm

ReferencesSource: Family Relations © 1996 National Council on Family Relations

Marital History for People 15 Years Old and Over by Age, Sex, Race and Ethnicity: Fall 1996. (1996). (U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)) Retrieved April 21, 2011, from U.S. Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/marital-hist/p70-80/tab01.pdf

National Marriage and Divorce Rate Trends. (2011, March 7). (National Center for Health Statistics ) Retrieved April 18, 2011, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/marriage_divorce_tables.htm