A recent study on marriage and divorce out of the University of Maryland reveals some interesting trends. Some of those are detailed below.
WOMEN ARE DIVORCING AT A LESSER RATE
Between 2008 and 2018, the number of married women who filed for divorce dropped 18 percent. Even when accounting for variables that could impact this statistic, such as the number of years a woman has been married, the number of times a woman has been married, their age, education, and race/ethnicity, the divorce rate for women is down.
BABY BOOMERS DIVORCE AT A HIGHER RATE
For people between the ages of 55 and 64, divorce rates have doubled between 1990 and 2015. For Americans 65 and older, the divorce rate tripled during the same time frame. Baby boomers are still divorcing at rates much higher than those of previous generations during the same age ranges.
GRAY DIVORCE RATES REMAIN THE SAME
“Gray divorce” is a term that refers to women and men who divorce at an older age. For a time, gray divorce was on the rise. However, this trend has stopped. Currently, the divorce rates for older women are holding constant.
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF MARRYING WOMEN
Marrying women between 2008 and 2018 were more likely to share the following characteristics.
- Be older.
- Hold college degrees.
- Have no children at home.
- Be in their first marriages.
DIVORCE RATES DECLINING AMONG MILLENNIALS
Over the last ten years, divorce rates for people under the age of 45 have declined. Experts note this means we are entering a time where children will be less likely to experience divorcing parents. However, it is also important to balance this against the fact more parents are choosing to have children without the legal protections of marriage.
MILLENNIALS HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO MARRIAGE
Millennials are marrying later in life than their parents and grandparents. In the 1950s and 1960s, for example, the average age of women entering marriage for the first time was 21, and the average age for men was 24. Marriage was considered the entry into adulthood. Today, however, adulthood is viewed differently. Society is more likely to define adulthood by financial sustainability, individual responsibility, and independent judgment, according to researchers.
Additionally, millennials view marriage differently. According to researchers, millennials are more likely to live together before marrying. This could contribute to a lower divorce rate in that relationships that are doomed from the start can be ended without a divorce.
CONSIDERING A DIVORCE?
If you are considering a divorce, contact the law firm of Frost & Kavanaugh. We offer comprehensive divorce law services, from separation agreements to divorce litigation to mediation of the issues, where appropriate. Call the office today to schedule a consultation.