BLS/NSFG (2023): Occupation & High-Stress Careers in Divorce Risk
Study Description
The 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and NSFG merger analyzes how occupations influence divorce rates, finding high-stress jobs like teaching or bartending raise risk by 30–50% due to burnout, irregular hours, and infidelity opportunities.
Research Findings
Teachers have +40% risk from emotional labor, while bartenders face +50% from late nights. Low-stress roles like accountants protect with –10%. The study notes infidelity-prone jobs (e.g., teachers) add 20–40% extra risk via workplace affairs. This work shows job stress as a key marital strain.
Experimental Setup
BLS/NSFG (n=100,000+), merging occupation data with divorce outcomes. Survival models tracked 10-year rates, controlling for income, age, education.
Drawbacks/Limitations on Finding
Self-reported occupations; limited to U.S.; short-term tracking; causality correlational. Reliable due to large sample.
Calculator Integration
At Odds on Life, logit +0.262 (high-stress), +0.336 (infidelity-prone), -0.095 (low); standalone no cap.
Study References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics / NSFG (2023)
Marriage and Divorce Patterns by Occupation – Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ashley Madison Divorce Survey (2023) – Infidelity by Profession
High-stress: +30–50%, infidelity-prone (e.g., teachers): +20–40% extra risk
Related Factors
This study directly informs the calculator's assessment of:
- High-Stress Occupations – Jobs like bartending, teaching, nursing, and law enforcement that increase divorce risk by 30–50%
- Infidelity-Prone Occupations – Jobs like teaching, bartending, and nursing that add 20–40% extra risk due to workplace affair opportunities
- Low-Stress Occupations – Jobs like accounting, programming, and pharmacy that provide a protective effect (-10%)
These occupation factors are standalone with no cap, as the BLS/NSFG data shows they operate independently from other demographic factors. The study's finding that job stress is a key marital strain highlights the importance of work-life balance in marital stability.