Divorce Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Divorce - Research Paper Example If marriage has legal and religious dimensions, staying together has no such attributes so that the partners in such relationships can break their relationship at any time. â€Å"A divorce can feel like a big storm. Before the storm, the air may be filled with tension† (Winchester & Beyer, 2001, p.30). It should be noted that problems may arise in family life from various corners. It may be because of the different views kept by the partners about their life. For example, it is quite possible that a husband take shelter in alcoholism, drug addiction or extra marital affairs to enjoy his life. On the hand, his wife may not accept these behaviours. She could be a highly religious person who has faith and belief in God. So their family life may not continue in a good manner. Different life philosophies of these persons may fight with each other and these fights may ultimately end up in a divorce. â€Å"According to the 2007 statistics, divorce rate in America is 54.8%, second on ly to Sweden. In countries like India divorce rate is as low as 1.1% only† (Divorce Rates of the World, 2007). During the 1980s, the divorce rate in the US reached its peak. 50% of the marriages terminated in divorce. The reasons cited for this upheaval are: Increase in the earning potential of women; the concept of divorce found more acceptances; an enhancement in the pursuit of joy, i.e. the possibility to locate a better partner and the presence of no fault laws (History of Divorce in America, n. d.). It is difficult to cite a single reason for increasing divorce rates in America. Plenty of reasons were cited for the increased rates of divorce in America. This paper analyses the major reasons for divorce and its consequences. Effect of divorce upon family and children With more than 30 years of research, we now know divorce seldom leads to a better life. Consider that: Life expectancies for divorced men and women are significantly lower than for married people (who have the longest life expectancies). A recent study found those who were unhappy but stay married were more likely to be happy five years later than those who divorced. The health consequences of divorce are so severe that a Yale researcher concluded that â€Å"being divorced and a non-smoker is [only] slightly less dangerous than smoking a pack a day and staying married.† After a diagnosis of cancer, married people are most likely to recover, while the divorced are least likely to recover, indicating that the emotional trauma of divorce has a long-term impact on the physical health of the body. Men and women both suffer a decline in mental health following divorce, but researchers have found that women are more greatly affected. Some of the mental health indicators affected by divorce include depression, hostility, self-acceptance, personal growth and positive relations with others (Desai, 2009). Divorce puts people, both the husband and the wife, under a lot of stress† (McGre gor, 2001, p.87). Many people have the false belief that a divorce may be the only solution to come out from a strained relationship. They may think that the life after divorce could be better than that before divorce. But in many cases, it is not true. The new partner may often present more horrible experiences and the person may face lot of emotional problems in that life also. The