Divorce May Be Contagious

Is divorce contagious? According to professors James Fowler and Rose McDermott from the University of California in San Diego, it may be. The group’s research demonstrates when someone in the social circle gets divorced, it is more likely that others within the circle may follow suit. The research, conducted by Fowler and researchers from Harvard and Brown, has demonstrated that even when it is only a friend of a friend who is divorcing, the news of the divorce can influence other relationships.

Comparing the phenomenon to a virus, the researchers have applied the theory of social contagion, hypothesizing that the emotions and negative feelings experienced by the couple getting divorced are spread to others within the social circle, first influencing close friends and family but ultimately reaching out at least two degrees to influence others.

The research is timely, given the recent announcements by Al and Tipper Gore, who announced last week that their 40 year marriage would be ending. That announcement was followed rapidly by an announcement from the Gore’s oldest daughter, Karenna Gore Schiff, who is divorcing her husband, to whom she has been married for 13 years and with whom she has three children.

The study, which analyzed findings from more than 5,000 divorced couples from the last four decades, has determined that as people confide in their friends and family members about the idea of getting divorced, not only do they warm up to the idea of divorce but seem to spread that enthusiasm among their friends and family. People with divorced friends were 147% more likely to be divorced themselves, and even co-workers can be influenced by the phenomenon.

According to the study, the presence of children in the relationship served as a prophylactic against the contagion. “Interestingly, we do not find that the presence of children influences the likelihood of divorce, but we do find that each child reduces the susceptibility to being influenced by peers who get divorced,” says the report.

Shadra Bruce is a contributing writer for Mental Health News.