Is Divorce Contagious?

Divorce is a complex and deeply personal decision. However, recent studies suggest there may be some surprising social dynamics at play. Could it be that divorce is contagious, spreading from one couple to another through their social networks? Let’s explore this intriguing phenomenon and delve into the divorce stats that shed light on the notion that divorce is contagious.

What the stats say

When we think about divorce we tend to assume it has been a highly individual decision made by a couple or one individual within the marriage. While that’s true, studies have revealed a fascinating aspect of divorce dynamics: it can spread among friends, siblings and even coworkers.

Divorce Stats: According to research, if one of your close friends gets divorced your own risk of divorce increases significantly. In fact, having a friend who recently went through a divorce can increase your risk by up to 75%. This statistic relating to divorced friends is astonishing. It suggests that divorce may not always be an isolated event – a friend’s divorce can have ripple effects throughout social circles.

The Influence of Multiple Divorced Friends: It’s not just one divorced friend that can have an impact. If you have multiple friends who are divorced the likelihood of you considering divorce becomes even greater. Moreover, this phenomenon is not just limited to friends; it can extend to siblings, coworkers and other close family members as well.

Passing it on

So, how exactly does divorce become contagious? It’s not as though there’s a virus that spreads the desire to separate. Instead it seems to be the result of a more subtle influence rooted in social and emotional dynamics.

When your friends get divorced you might start reflecting on your own relationship in a little more detail, analyzing how satisfied you are and exploring the possibility of ending your own unhappy marriage. Their experiences can serve as a sort of wake-up call, prompting you to re-evaluate your own relationship.

Researchers believe the contagious nature of divorce might be due to the fact that we tend to empathize with our friends. When they go through the challenging process of divorce, we might start to put ourselves in their shoes and become more willing to consider it as an option for our own marriage.

Helping a friend out of an unhappy marriage

Sometimes, being there for a friend who is going through a tough divorce can lead to conversations about the benefits of ending an unhappy marriage. This emotional support can inadvertently influence your own perspective on divorce.

Another factor that might contribute to the ‘divorce is contagious’ phenomenon is the availability of unbundled legal services. These services make it easier for individuals to seek legal advice without committing to the full divorce process. The unbundled legal services option makes it easier to dip your toes into the process to find out more, and in turn that may make divorce seem like a more viable option compared with the complexities of the process in the past.

While divorce is clearly a highly personal decision, it appears it can have a contagious effect within social circles. The statistics clearly show that having friends or close associates who have gone through a divorce can significantly increase your own risk of considering it. Whether it’s through shared experiences, empathetic support or the evolving landscape of legal services, divorce may indeed be contagious in some respects.

Of course it’s important to remember that each marriage is unique and decisions regarding divorce should always be made with careful consideration of personal circumstances and needs.