fbpx
Skip to content
 

DivorceDivorce Spreads Through Social Networks

June 23, 2010

In a fascinating study, divorce was found to be contagious. According to a study at the Framington Heart Study, a person whose friend or sibling gets a divorce is more likely to get divorced

As detailed in the study , the researchers found that:

Divorce is the dissolution of a social tie, but it is also possible that attitudes about divorce flow across social ties . . . We find that divorce can spread between friends, siblings, and coworkers, and there are clusters of divorcees that extend two degrees of separation in the network. We also find that popular people are less likely to get divorced, divorcees have denser social networks, and they are much more likely to remarry other divorcees.

The “contagious” nature of divorce is unlikely to be caused by shared environmental factors because friends who live far away are just as influential as those who live close by. But, having children mitigates the susceptibility to being influenced by peers who get divorced

The study concludes that attending to the health of one’s friends’ marriages serves to support and enhance the durability of one’s own relationship, and that divorce should be understood as a collective phenomenon that extends far beyond those directly affected.

The information contained in this website has been provided for general informational purposes only and DOES NOT constitute legal advice; there is no warranty on this information and it does not in any way constitute an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. All individuals are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding their specific situation and facts. 

THIS SITE SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COMPETENT AND INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE.

Further, e-mails or other correspondence with any member of this firm does not create an attorney-client relationship without the explicit written agreement between the parties

Call Now Button