You may have heard people talk about the rising divorce rate in the United States and the reasons that it has gone up. Researchers have looked at divorce rates all around the world, and they have found that they’ve risen in recent years in many places outside of the U.S.
In their studies, they also looked at some of the factors that contributed to the odds of a divorce. They wanted to see why certain countries may have higher or lower rates than others. Some of the factors they noted included:
- Life experiences
- Level of education
- Average income
- Employment status
- Age at marriage
- The level of economic development in the country
- Gender breakdown in the workforce
- Country-specific norms and values
- Overall gender equality
- Attitudes about human rights
These things all impact different couples in different ways. Does a couple with a high level of education and a correspondingly high income enjoy more stability than a couple without much education and with frequent financial issues? Does a young couple who got married early feel like they’re drifting apart? Do the values that each person held before they got married influence them to break up or stay together?
You can find different trends all over the world, but one thing is certain: Divorce can happen to just about anyone, regardless of the specifics of the situation. Some factors may make it more or less likely, but people in all groups need to be aware of the realities of the divorce rates. When they split up, they need to know their legal rights.