The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today released new numbers on the prevalence of divorce in England and Wales. The data shows that there was a 4.9% increase in the number divorces this year compared to the previous year. However, there are also indications that the proportion of couples divorcing is generally decreasing.
As such, looking at marriage on a more long-term scale, the ONS has seen that there is no longer a rise in number of couples getting divorced. The ONS said that the recent increase could be due to the financial climate. “The small rise in the divorce rate and the number of divorces in 2010 could be associated with the economic climate following the 2008-09 recession”.
The number of couples marrying has generally decreased in recent years, as more couples are cohabiting. Moreover, people are generally marrying later than before. There is less of an obligation on today’s couples to marry than there was before, as cohabitation has become a socially accepted relationship form.
Divorce is often an emotionally straining and generally complicated process for the parties involved. Many will have a pre-nuptial agreement, which might ease the process slightly. However, the emotional turmoil will still be profoundly difficult.
As it has emerged that divorce can adversely affect children, and that the process is often straining on both individuals, more and more couples are trying to work through their difficulties.
Some recent research shows that the trend of the lavish wedding is adding to the generally high divorce rates. Many couples take on debt in order to organise their dream wedding and expect that marriage will in some way change their everyday life. For some couples, the disappointment can be so profound that they start suffering from depression and possibly also choose to terminate the marriage.
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/divorces-in-england-and-wales/2010/stb-divorces-2010.html#tab-Proportion-of-marriages-ending-in-divorce
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/divorces-in-england-and-wales/2010/stb-divorces-2010.html#tab-Duration-of-marriage
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/divorces-in-england-and-wales/2010/stb-divorces-2010.html#tab-Divorce-rates
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/divorces-in-england-and-wales/2010/stb-divorces-2010.html#tab-Key-findings
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