Research Studies Reference

How the CDC's National Survey of Family Growth reveals that marrying young (under 23) or having a child before marriage significantly raises divorce risk, with 10-year divorce rates of 40–50% compared to the U.S. average of 28%. The study analyzed over 13,000 adults and shows that age at marriage and premarital children are key predictors of marital stability.

How parental divorce affects the marital stability of offspring. Wolfinger's foundational 2005 study shows that children of divorced parents are 60–150% more likely to experience divorce themselves, creating an intergenerational cycle due to learned behaviors like poor conflict resolution and lower commitment expectations.

Paul Amato's 2001 meta-analysis synthesizes 93 studies involving over 100,000 participants, confirming that offspring of divorced parents have a 60–150% higher divorce risk. The research identifies transmission mechanisms like altered attachment styles and negative views of commitment, and finds that high parental conflict can be as damaging as divorce itself.

How high parental conflict, even in intact marriages, increases offspring divorce risk by 40–80%. The 2018 JMF study by Booth et al. shows that exposure to frequent arguments and tension in childhood teaches poor conflict resolution skills and creates negative attitudes toward marriage, with effects amplified when combined with parental divorce.

How high-stress occupations like teaching or bartending raise divorce risk by 30–50% due to burnout, irregular hours, and infidelity opportunities. The 2023 BLS/NSFG merger analyzed over 100,000 cases, finding that teachers face +40% risk from emotional labor, while bartenders face +50% from late nights. Low-stress roles like accounting provide protection.

How the Add Health longitudinal study reveals that adopted or foster children have a 70% higher divorce risk due to instability, attachment disruptions, and trauma. With over 20,000 participants followed for decades, the study shows that foster care's transient nature can mimic divorce's effects, with risks amplified when combined with parental divorce.

How high debt burdens marriages, with debt exceeding 50% of income raising divorce risk by 35% via financial stress and arguments. The 2022 JMF study by Dew et al. shows that couples with heavy student loans or credit card debt often fight more, leading to emotional distance, while low debt provides protection.

How the 2023 CDC NSFG update reveals that remarriages have 100–300% higher divorce risk, with second marriages failing at 40% over 10 years and third+ marriages at 50–60%. The study shows that "practice" doesn't make perfect in marriage—experience often brings complications like stepkids, trust issues, and past traumas.