Study finds divorce more likely for men who are unemployed

While many Missouri couples have successful marriages, others often decide that getting a divorce is the right move. However, it can be difficult to determine what can potentially lead to a divorce. A study that utilized data from more than 6.300 couples found that women are generally able to do their thing while men who do not work full time outside of the home are more likely to become divorced.

According to the study, couples who married before 1975 were more likely to remain married if the woman was more involved in the household work. This trend changes after 1975 and an equitable share of the household chores between the couple did not have an effect on the rate of divorce. However, whether or not the man was employed was and still is a predictor of whether or not the couple will remain married.

One reason this may be is that the man’s unemployment could cause more of a financial strain on the marriage especially if the unemployment is involuntary. Additionally, government programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program gives poor women stability and the ability to leave a marriage.

The decision to get a divorce can be difficult especially if the couple has children or assets that will need to be divided. If the couple cannot come to an agreement on their own or through mediation, a family law attorney may potentially assist with the negotiations. The attorney may argue that a parent should have primary custody of the children because they were the primary caregivers during the marriage. The attorney may also negotiate so that the parent can keep the family home or other assets that will allow the parent the ability to keep the environment stable for the children.