Marriage & divorce

Marriage and divorce are both common experiences. In Western cultures, more than 90 percent of people marry by age 50. Healthy marriages are good for couples’ mental and physical health. They are also good for children; growing up in a happy home protects children from mental, physical, educational and social problems. However, about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. The divorce rate for subsequent marriages is even higher.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Research on Marriage & Divorce

Happy couples: How to keep your relationship healthy
Keep your romantic partnership in good working order by talking openly, keeping it interesting and seeking help if needed.
Nine psychological tasks for a good marriage
Research on what makes a marriage work shows that people in a good marriage have completed these psychological "tasks.”
Making stepfamilies work
Parents of a “blended family” face plenty of challenges, but there are things you can do to make communication easier and help children adjust to their new reality.
Answers to Your Questions About Same-Sex Marriage
Scientists have found that the psychological and social aspects of committed relationships between same-sex partners largely resemble those of heterosexual partnerships, that living in a state where same-sex marriage is outlawed can lead to chronic social stress and mental health problems, and that same-sex couples are as fit and capable parents as heterosexual couples.

Getting Help

Find a Psychologist
Marital Education Programs Help Keep Couples Together
In the United States, couples marrying for the first time have approximately a fifty percent chance of divorcing. Psychologists are helping couples' "I do" last a lifetime through development and application of scientifically tested relationship education programs.
Civil wars