Intriguing new study on how divorce may be contagious!

Researchers at Brown University in the U.S. analysed thirty years of marriage data collected from Framingham, a town in Massachusetts.

The data suggests, they claim, that having a divorced friend increases your own chance of divorce by a rather startling 75 per cent. Even knowing someone who has been divorced will increase your own chances of divorce by as much as a third.

The researchers have reported:

“Divorce represents the dissolution of a social tie, but it is also possible that attitudes about divorce flow across social ties…The results suggest that divorce can spread between friends.”

Their report also suggests that children may discourage divorce. A couple is less likely to be influenced by divorce amongst friends and acquaintances the more children they have.

“The contagion of divorce can spread through a social network like a rumor, affecting friends up to two degrees removed. Yet adopting a strategy of social isolation so as to avoid being affected (a fanciful idea) does not provide a realistic solution since friendship networks also provide protection against myriad forms of social distress,” said Rose McDermott, Ph.D.

If you have any queries about this article please contact jonesnickolds on 0203 405 2300 or contact@jonesnickolds.co.uk