Study Finds That Siblings May Affect Divorce Risk

Last week, USA Today ran an interesting story saying that people who come from families with more siblings are less likely for divorce. The newspaper said that a new study found a correlation between having brothers and sisters, and the effect they have on separations in adulthood.

According to a survey of 57,061 adults, collected between 1972 and 2012, each additional sibling a person has reduces the likelihood of divorce by 2 percent. The survey was part of a study conducted through the General Social Survey.

“There are a lot of other factors that affect divorce that are more important than how many siblings you had. However, we’re finding that the number of siblings is a factor,” Ohio State University sociologist Doug Downey, a co-author of the study, told USA Today. “Each additional sibling reduces their chances of divorce a little bit.”

The authors of the study told USA Today that having siblings often helps people develop social skills necessary in navigating marriage issues, including disputes.

One person was not convinced of the study’s results though. S. Philip Morgan, director of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill told USA Today that using “data from the General Social Survey are ‘somewhat problematic’ for the issue of divorce.”

“I’m not yet convinced, ” Morgan told USA Today. “The theory is interesting and plausible but not overpowering.”

A divorce can be unexpected and contentious—sometimes there is very little a person can do to prevent one from occurring. Keep in mind, if you are contemplating a divorce or your spouse has filed for one, you will need to deal with manners of child custody and visitation, division of marital assets, alimony and child support and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Our attorneys have almost four decades of experience in divorce negotiations. We will listen to your wishes and assist you compassionate counsel. To speak with Paul B. Goldhamer and his associates, call our toll-free phone number at (866) 971-0927.

Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. – Rockland County Divorce Attorneys