Education is one of the best ways to acquire knowledge. A sturdy foundation of education enhances personal development, logical thinking skills, effective communication skills, and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, there is a nuanced relationship between education and divorce rates, especially, for women.

Studies have shown that the education level has a noteworthy positive impact on marital satisfaction. Mechanism analysis examines the effect of income, spousal age gap, and spiritual abundance on marital bliss. In addition, factors such as gender, age, and economic conditions also impact divorce rates worldwide.

Correlation between education and divorce rates for women

The data for the family profile, “First Divorce Rate, 2010” were gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010. At that time, the rate of first divorce in the U.S. was 17.5 per 1,000 women 18 years old and older in a first marriage. According to the research, recent declines in the probability of divorce largely reflect an increase in marital stability among the more educated.

Among women in a first marriage, the rate of first divorce is highest for those who received some education after high school, but have not earned a bachelor’s degree — 23 per 1,000. The association between education and divorce is also curvilinear. The least (no high school diploma or GED) and the highest (college degree) educated women share the lowest rate of first divorce, with 14.4 and 14.2 per 1,000, respectively.

Broken down by race and ethnicity, the study found Asian women have the lowest first divorce rate at 10 divorces per 1,000 women in a first marriage. The first divorce rates of white and Hispanic women were similar at 16.3 and 18.1, respectively. African-American women have substantially higher rates of first divorce compared to all other racial and ethnic groups, at 30.4 divorces per 1,000 women in a first marriage.

Once education was factored in, the NCFMR found, with the exception of Asians, the highest rate of first divorce was among women with some college, regardless of race or ethnicity.

“Contrary to the notion that women with a college degree face the lowest chances of divorce, those without a high school degree actually have similar low odds of divorce,” explained Dr. Susan Brown, NCFMR co-director. “The relationship between education and divorce is not straightforward.”

However, according to co-director Dr. Wendy Manning, these patterns are consistent with patterns they are finding in other national data sources.

The association between education and the first-divorce rate held up even when race was factored in. Among African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics, women with less than a high school degree had a similar divorce rate to women who graduated from college. Among African-American and Hispanic women, the lowest first-divorce rates were found among women with less than a high school diploma.

“Among white women, there were few differences according to education, but those with a college degree experienced lower divorce rates than any other education group,” Manning said. “These findings showcase that the association between education and divorce differs for racial and ethnic groups, and it is important to consider this variation.”

This project was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. For additional details about the study, click here.

The NCFMR is the only federally supported family and marriage research center in the nation. It is a university-based, multidisciplinary, nonpartisan center whose mission is to conduct policy-relevant research on American families with the goal of improving our understanding of how families affect the health and well-being of children, adults, and communities; train and mentor the next generation of family researchers, and disseminate research findings to broad, national audiences, including policymakers and practitioners.

Why Is Education More Important Today Than Innovation?

Educated spouses stand a better chance of marital conflict resolution. Hence, a society needs to focus on developing individuals who hold social, financial, and emotional stability. Innovation will ultimately become a by-product of well-educated individuals. In terms of marriage, spouses are better able to communicate their needs and wants when educated on healthy relationship practices.

Are Women’s Divorce Rates on the Increase in Today’s Generation and Why?

Western countries have a higher rate of divorce, with women initiating the separation. Women are increasingly becoming independent, which is considered a major factor in divorce rates. By being financially sufficient, modern-age women now seek men who fulfil their emotional and physical needs. In addition, as more women tend to continue their careers after marriage, the demarcation of household duties and children’s responsibilities becomes a top divorce reason.

Bridging the Communication Gap between Spouses

Due to an evolved, educated society prominent in many countries today, financial independence and shifting gender roles have become primary factors in increased divorce rates in developed countries. Financial instability, societal pressures, and forced marriages seem to be the reasons for divorce rates in developing countries. Education must not be a factor for divorces or separation, but a means to maintain harmony between spouses. Hence, society must work towards strengthening marital stability through social awareness and reformed gender-equal laws.