New study shows divorces are contagious

Divorces can be contagious

04/11/2013

A long-term study by the researcher Rose McDermott of Brown University, Rhode Island, has found that divorce is highly contagious. The results have now been published in the journal „Social forces“ released. The evaluation of the already begun in 1948 study has found that when good friends divorce, increases their own risk of divorce by 75 percent. Within the circle of acquaintances, the danger is reduced, but it is still 33 percent.

More than 10,000 people have delivered data
Overall, the researcher analyzed the data from more than 10,000 Americans, which were ultimately collected over two generations. Irrelevant is the distance of the two friends from each other. Rather, the narrowness of friendship with the divorcing couple is important. It was also revealed that even the friends of friends, are influenced by the divorce. And even if they do not even know the divorce couple personally.

Kids and married couples help to stay together
No reason to panic, because as an antidote it has been shown that for couples with children, the risk drops significantly. It can be summarized, the more children have a married couple, the less is the need to divorce, if friends or acquaintances take this step. However, this study can also have another positive aspect. By the same token, this also means that enough married couples in the circle of friends minimize the risk and thus contribute to a balance.

The phenomenon of „social contagion“ has been observed in other studies and has been known for some time. In weight changes of good friends, for example, an influence was found. It has also been observed that when siblings have children, the desire to have children is often increased and a short time later, offspring are on their way. (Fr)