SHOCKING DIVORCE STATS – WE’RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

News

A landmark US study tracking every child born between 1988 and 1993 has uncovered alarming evidence about the devastating impacts divorce can have on children’s lives. Comparing children from divorced families with peers from intact homes, the study reveals consequences we cannot afford to ignore.

Individual experiences vary, but these findings (excluding unmarried breakups), highlight large-scale systemic impacts on children and wider society.

Immediately after divorce, household income halves. Even ten years later, these families are still approximately 30% poorer and live in neighbourhoods with 7% lower average incomes, significantly diminishing children’s opportunities and stability.

Divorce often leads to significant physical separation from one parent, with a median initial distance of five miles and a mean of more than 100 miles. Such distances severely restrict regular, essential parental contact.

The study also found child mortality increases by up to 55%, teen pregnancy rises by nearly two-thirds, and the likelihood of incarceration grows by up to 60%. Additionally, the prospect of living on a university campus nearly halves.

Individuals experiencing early childhood divorce earn approximately 13% less in their late twenties, a setback comparable to missing a year of education. The study identifies reduced family resources, disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and diminished parental engagement as key drivers behind these lasting effects, accounting for up to 60% of the observed harm.

In the UK, we know that family breakdown costs taxpayers an astonishing £51 billion annually – almost equivalent to the national defence budget. Yet, despite this enormous societal cost, recent legislation introducing no-fault divorce has caused more harm and simplified the process of ending marriages, potentially exacerbating the very issues that drive family breakdown.

At C4M, we firmly believe that strong, enduring marriages are critical – not just for couples, but also for their children and the wider community. That’s why we’re doing something about it. Alongside our campaigning work, I travel across the country delivering engaging pre-marriage workshops and dynamic marriage refresher sessions. These sessions provide couples with the practical tools and insights necessary to build and sustain healthy, thriving marriages.

Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more or arrange a session for your group.