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Divorce undermines health in ways remarriage doesn't heal

A study by University of Chicago sociologist Linda Waite found that divorce and widowhood have a detrimental impact on health, even after remarriage. Research based on 8,652 people aged 51 to 61 shows that those who have been divorced or widowed experience worse health outcomes compared to those who remain married.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·DateJul 27, 2009

Americans ambivalent toward single-parent families

A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reveals that Americans have an ambivalent attitude towards single-parent families. The research found that critical depictions of divorce decreased over time, reflecting an acceptance of divorce, but attitudes towards nonmarital childbearing remained largely negative.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateApr 22, 2009

UNC study: Mental illness by itself does not predict future violent behavior

Research challenges common perception that mental illness alone increases risk of future violence, instead finding mental illness combined with substance abuse to be a significant predictor. Other factors such as history of past violence, unemployment, and parental criminal history were found to be more predictive of future violence.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateFeb 2, 2009

Serial cohabiters less likely than others to marry

A new study found that serial cohabiters are less likely than single-instance cohabiting unions to result in marriage. Serial cohabiters who married had even higher divorce rates compared to those who cohabited only once, with over twice the rate of women who cohabited with their eventual husbands.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateNov 6, 2008

Divorce may widen distance between teens, fathers

A recent study found that divorce widens the distance between teenagers and their fathers, who often struggle to maintain close relationships despite increased involvement. The research suggests that fathers' involvement with children has increased, but mothers still do most of the childcare, creating pressure on fathers to invest more...

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateJan 9, 2008

A really inconvenient truth: Divorce is not green

A novel study by Jianguo Liu and Eunice Yu at Michigan State University found that divorce rates globally are on the rise, leading to more households with fewer people, increased resource consumption, and environmental degradation. In contrast, cohabitation can reduce urban sprawl and soften the environmental hit.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 3, 2007

Divorce increases risk of Ritalin use

A new study by Dr. Lisa Strohschein found a significantly higher risk of Ritalin use among children whose parents divorce compared to those whose parents stay together. The research suggests that parental divorce may act as a stressful life event, leading to adjustment problems and increased ADHD symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJun 4, 2007

Child custody with abusive ex-spouse? Study shows how women decide

A University of Illinois study explores how abused women decide on child custody arrangements, revealing the complex interplay between fear, practical considerations, and family ideology. The research highlights the need for tailored interventions to address the unique needs of parents with histories of violence.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Social and Personal Relationships·DateOct 5, 2006

Marie-Antoinette: The French revelation

Historian Simon Burrows disputes popular narrative that Queen's love life sparked revolution, citing evidence of scandalous pamphlets appearing after its start. The queen was unfairly maligned with lavish spending and plotting against the revolution, while sex allegations were baseless.

Living together before marriage: Now common but still risky

A new study from Penn State found that couples who lived together before marriage reported less happiness and more marital conflict than those who did not. The researchers suggest that personal characteristics and cohabitation experience play important roles in predicting marital quality and stability.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateAug 4, 2003

Relocation of children after parents' divorce may lead to long-term problems, study suggests

A study of 602 college students found that relocation after parents' divorce is associated with negative effects on children's psychological and emotional adjustment, general life satisfaction, and financial support. The researchers warn that the results are correlational and more longitudinal research is needed to confirm the findings.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Family Psychology·DateJun 25, 2003

Grandparent divorce weakens relationships with grandchildren

Research by Penn State's King found that ever-divorced grandparents live farther away from their grandchildren than married grandparents. Grandfathers report less contact and higher conflict with grandchildren compared to grandmothers. However, a good parent-grandparent relationship can mitigate the negative influence of divorce.

Parental marital discord affects quality of offspring marriages

A longitudinal study by Dr. Alan Booth and Dr. Paul R. Amato found that parental marital discord impacts offspring marriages, including the degree of matrimonial happiness or conflict. The transmission of poor interpersonal behaviors from parents can result in lower quality marriages among children.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateNov 26, 2001

First three minutes of discussion about on-going area of marital conflict are predictive of divorce among newlywed couples

Researchers at University of Washington found that couples who later divorced displayed significantly more negative emotions and words in their initial discussions compared to those who stayed married. The study suggests that learning how to soften one's approach and improve emotional connectedness can help prevent divorce.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalFamily Process·DateSep 27, 1999

Strength of beliefs intensify sense of loss

A new study by University of Iowa sociologists demonstrates that differences in people's beliefs about marriage are pivotal in explaining the mental health impact of transitions into marriage, divorce and separation. Beliefs in the permanence and desirability of marriage influence both negative and positive effects on depression.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·DateJun 20, 1999