Lasting Marriages on the Rise Despite U.S. Divorce Rate Myth

 Posted on January 12, 2015 in Divorce

As per a recent New York Times article published to The UpShot, it appears that Americans are still pegging the American divorce rate at 50 percent, despite growing opposition by scientific and statistical research.

Statistics are proving that the U.S. divorce rate is experiencing a significant decline from the high rates reported throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Although this appears as good news for marriage, there is still an evident belief that 50 percent of all American marriages are slated for imminent divorce.

To further dispel this American divorce rate myth, leading contributors, such as Upshot contributor and University of Michigan economist, Justin Wolfers contends that marriage is alive and well in today's America. Wolfers further believes that marriage is perhaps even stronger, as 70 percent of all marriages forged during the 1990s have either reached or bypassed their 15 year anniversary mark, and surpassed the 65 percent of marriages throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Although the success rate of marriage in America is on the upshot, the reasons behind the recent statistics are not as optimistic as to why marriages are remaining intact.

Andrew J. Cherlin, sociologist and author of "Labor's Lost Lost: The Rise and Fall of the Working-Class Family in America," associates the decline to the breakdown of the American middle class family model. Couples are hesitant to rush to the alter due to the lack of a solid financial foundation to support a marriage. Many high school graduates are unable to financially support a marriage, and are therefore lowering the percentage of overall marriages.

In support of Cherlin's theory, Wolfers further attributes that couples are waiting longer to tie the knot, and are creating stronger relationship bonds and understanding exactly what they want and expect of their marital partners. Marrying at a later age solidifies the commitment to marriage and differ from their counterparts of earlier years who opted for marriage at a younger age.

Stephanie Coontz, a professor at Evergreen State College and author of "Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage" also adds credence to our misconception of marriage and the American divorce rate. Coontz believes that generational changes in advanced permissive attitudes also plays a role. The mere fact that many couples choose to cohabitate before marriage supports breakups due to incompatibility leaving marriage and divorce out of the equation.

These new realizations of divorce in America may lead to further declines in the percentages of American divorce rates by children benefiting from successful marital role models, perhaps leading to the final debunk of the marital myth of America's divorce rate.

If you are one of the eight of every 1,000 Illinois marriages experiencing a decline and are contemplating divorce, learn how the experienced Wheaton family law attorneys of the Illinois law offices of Stock, Carlson & Asso. LLC can assist with your legal concerns and strategy. For more information, contact our Wheaton office at 630-665-2500 today.