Factors Contributing to Divorce in the Orthodox Jewish Community: A Large-Scale Qualitative Analysis

Divorce carries substantial psychological, social, and economic consequences, yet little is known about its underlying causes within the Orthodox Jewish community. This study addresses this gap by examining self-reported factors contributing to divorce among Orthodox Jews through a large-scale, inductive thematic analysis approach. The sample included 585 divorced individuals who identified as Orthodox Jewish at the time of their marriage and responded to an open-ended prompt asking them to describe factors they believed contributed to their divorce. Responses were thematically coded and analyzed. Eight primary themes emerged in the following order: (1) mental health and addiction, (2) abuse, (3) challenges with intimacy and communication, (4) value and lifestyle differences, (5) marrying young, short dating periods, and external pressure influencing marriage decisions, (6) infidelity, (7) financial challenges, and (8) nondisclosure of information prior to marriage. These findings provide novel insight into the distinctive cultural and relational dynamics influencing divorce in this population, underscoring the need for targeted communal interventions prior to marriage, throughout the courtship process, and as relational conflicts arise to promote healthier, more sustainable marriages within the Orthodox Jewish community.