Causes and Associated Features of Divorce as Seen by Recent Research

Most research conducted has come from the United States but a number of countries also provided information in connection with divorce and separation and thier causes. Little information is available, however, on how to deal with this problem effectively. Among the causes indicated are: women's independence; too early marriage; economic factors; poor intellectual, educational, and social skills; liberal divorce laws; sexual factors leading to incompatibility; role conflicts; alcoholism and substance abuse; risk-taking behavior; differences between the partners leading to acrimony; religious factors; attitudes to divorce and various other factors. The consequences of divorce are the diminishing of fathers' role in the family over recent years, the poor impact separation and divorce have on children, the emotional problems suffered by all concerned, and the reduced living standard of families that have separated.