Children of Divorced Parents are Likely to Experience Divorce Later in Life

By Sheryl Rentz on September 24, 2010

With some statistics showing that one out of every two marriages will fail, it’s no wonder that divorce has ingrained itself within our society. In fact, with the addition of laws that have made it much easier to file for divorce nowadays than it was 50 years ago, our society has gotten to the point where divorce is hardly out of the ordinary. Consequently, according to a recent CNN.com report, it’s this sense of familiarity that is making divorce even more prevalent, particularly among couples where either one or both spouses come from families of divorce.

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that in 2009, there were 3.4 divorces per 1,000 people in the United States. However, when you factor in whether or not an individual has divorced parents, the likelihood that the individual will eventually divorce greatly increases. That is, the risk of divorce increases by 50% when one spouse comes from a family of divorce, and an astounding 200% when both spouses do. The most basic explanation for these figures is the idea that children grow up to value the same ideals their parents did, and if divorce was factored into the familial equation, then a child will view divorce much less benignly than a child who was not exposed to a household of divorce while growing up.

While divorce is certainly hard on any family, there are ways to ensure that children of divorce are not negatively impacted because of it. As far as marriage is concerned, the study alludes to the idea that children tend to emulate the actions of their mother and father. Therefore, if parents work towards an amiable divorce process, then their children may develop a more positive view of relationships in the long run and may be less likely to view divorce as both an easy option and negative process later on in life.

For more information about divorce in Pennsylvania, please contact the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz. Our Pennsylvania family law attorneys assist individuals with a variety of legal matters including divorce, parental visitation rights, and spousal support. If you are thinking about filing for divorce, please call an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney today at 610-645-0100. We offer free telephone consultations.