Four Common Divorce Myths Debunked

 Posted on November 11, 2022 in Divorce

In a world where access to information is as easy as typing a few search terms into your smartphone, it is rather surprising that so much misinformation about divorce continues to circulate. Some of the misconceptions may be attributed to long-held beliefs that can be difficult to change while others were once true but are not anymore. For example, you may have heard one or more of the following.

Divorce Myth #1: Half of Marriages End in Divorce

This common statement is not an accurate depiction of the actual divorce rate in the United States. It comes from a flawed comparison of the per capita rate of marriages and divorces in a particular year. Comparing the number of marriages against the number of divorces for any given year will result in skewed data. For example, some of the divorces that occur this year involve marriages that began 30, 40, or even 50 years prior—in other words, more than two generations ago. The actual divorce rate is closer to 40 percent than 50 percent, and it is markedly lower among younger couples.

Divorce Myth #2: Divorce Is Bad for Children

 Many couples make the mistake of “staying together for the children.” Research has repeatedly shown that doing so is often not in the best interests of the child. If a couple stays together but is often fighting, arguing, or giving each other the silent treatment, this can be very psychologically damaging to the child. If the atmosphere in the home is tense and unloving, a divorce may actually help the child to thrive. Children are very resilient, and if they are given love and guidance, studies suggest that it does not matter if that love comes from two separate households.

Divorce Myth #3: The Divorce Rate Is Rising

Despite beliefs to the contrary, the divorce rate peaked in the 1970s-1980s. In fact, about 70 percent of the people who got married in the 1990s were still married after 15 years. About 65 percent of those married in the 1970s and 1980s celebrate their 15th anniversary which means that marriages are lasting longer on average. Research shows that the divorce rate was approximately 40 percent in the 1980s dropping to about 30 percent in the early 2000s. The present rate of divorce is estimated to be somewhere in between.

Divorce Myth #4: Getting a Divorce Will Make You a Social Outcast

There was a time when divorced men and women were looked down upon. They could walk into a crowded room, and it would become quieter as others whispered gossip about the divorcee. This is very rarely the case anymore. With a few exceptions, most people are very familiar with divorce. Even if they are not divorced themselves, they have friends or relatives that are. Getting a divorce is not something shameful, and the social stigma once associated with divorce is all but gone in most social circles.

Contact a Tarrant County Divorce Lawyer

If you are considering getting a divorce, you probably have many questions. Our attorneys are knowledgeable and ready to answer your questions and help guide you through the divorce process. Contact a skilled Hurst family law attorney at Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C.. Call 817-498-4105 for a free consultation to discuss your situation today. 

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-single/201702/what-is-the-divorce-rate-really

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmericanFamily/story?id=127000&page=1

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/02/upshot/the-divorce-surge-is-over-but-the-myth-lives-on.html