Put everything you think you know about divorce aside, because the findings of a series of divorce studies conducted independently of each other in 2012 just might surprise you.
According to one study conducted by U.K. based Co-operative Legal Services, unreasonable behavior, not infidelity, is the top cause of divorce.
How The Numbers Look
The study took a look at over 5 million divorce cases dating back to the 1970s and helped shed light on the fact that modern couples are only half as likely to cite infidelity as being the primary cause of their split.
The study statistics provide a clearer picture, with 29% of couples in the 70’s having cited infidelity as the reason for divorce versus only 15% of modern couples. Additionally, only 28% of couples in the 70’s cited unreasonable behavior as the deciding factor, while 47% of modern couples are broken apart by it.
What Constitutes ‘Unreasonable Behavior’?
Of course, it’s only fair to ask, “What is unreasonable behavior?”
The truth is that unreasonable behavior can be a number of things, including a wife citing her husband’s cross-dressing and subsequent sex change as a reason for divorce, one woman filing for divorce due to her husband reclusive behavior and tendency to admonish her for any attempts to socialize, and another wife stating that her husband withdrawing their entire family savings was the last straw.
More Interesting Divorce Findings and Statistics
However, the Co-operative Legal Services study isn’t the only one to bring some interesting facts to light. In fact, below are some divorce research findings that might pique your interest:
- According to a Kansas State University study, couples that fight over financial issues early on in their relationship will face a higher risk of divorce.
- Swedish researchers found that women with the A-allele oxytocin receptor gene variation are more likely to remain single and that those who do marry are 50% more likely to report issues within the relationship.
- The University of Michigan completed a study in November 2012 that reported that husbands with a close knit relationship with their in-laws decreased divorce risk by 20%, but that a wife being close to her husband’s parents actually increased divorce risk by 20%.
- In January 2012 a Michigan State University study reported that divorce more significantly affects the health of younger couples than it does older couples, with one researcher suggesting that it’s due to the superior coping mechanisms of older individuals
The truth is, there are a variety of different factors that can contribute to divorce, which is undoubtedly an incredibly stressful ordeal.
So what do you think of these findings? Were you surprised by any of them? Let us know in the comments below!
