9781422270189

Family of Origin Children whose parents are divorced are 89% more likely to experience divorce. This percentage is even greater if both members of the couple are children of divorce. 20 When a family of origin includes people who abuse or neglect others, have a mental illness, misuse drugs and alcohol, or are incarcerated, the children are more likely to divorce as adults. Social Media Use Excessive social media use can have a negative effect on the stability of a marriage. Some studies have found that some social network users seek to maintain or rekindle previous relationships, leading to temptation and jealousy. Also, the ease of connecting on social media makes relationships that might have been temporary before social media easier to maintain. 11 A suspicious partner might use social media to look for evidence that their spouse is cheating. In fact, one study found that Facebook “is cited in one out of every five divorces in the United States.” 11 Mental Health Disorders People with untreated or uncontrolled mental health disorders may experience an increase in the likelihood of divorce from 20 to 80 percent. Major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse account for nearly half of the mental health disorders that lead to divorce. 6 Individuals who struggle with mental health disorders may lack the stability to maintain a long-term marriage. Communication Communication is the foundation of all relationships, including marriages. If spouses cannot communicate with one another in a respectful and supportive manner, they will struggle to maintain their marriage. Each of the issues covered above needs strong communication skills in marriage to work through the problems.

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Chapter 1: Divorce Today