Does Geographic Location Affect Divorce Rate?
According to The Modesto Bee, those who live in the south of the United States are more likely to file divorce. In a recent study compiled by The Barna Group, a company that provides resources and research to churches, divorce rates are different, depending on geographic locations.
The group reported that the Midwest and South tied for first with 27 percent of married couples getting a divorce. The West came in second with 26 percent of couples getting divorced. The Northeast was the lowest at 19 percent. Massachusetts was the state with the lowest divorce rate. Other states with low divorce rates included Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York and Pennsylvania. The states with high divorce rates were Nevada, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
As a native Mississippian, a divorcee, and an attorney, I thought I’d just pop in with my two cents on the bases of this phenomena.
First, I think more people in the South are more reluctant to get any type of marital counseling. If you’re not willing to learn how to make your marriage better, then it’s more likely to fail.
Second, while I don’t have any statistics to back this up, I’d be willing to wager that the average age at marriage is lower in the South and the Midwest than in other parts of the U.S. I got married for the first time at age 23. I now personally don’t think one should get married before the age of 25, and think 30 is even better. The more maturity you have under your belt, the better.
Third is, when it comes down to it, a combination of one, two, and Gabriel’s comment. The South, especially Mississippi, has a lower per capita income. Statistics tell us that money is the number one or two source of arguments in a marriage. It stands to reason that the less money you have, the more likely you are to argue over how it should be used. Seeking counseling and being more mature can help alleviate some of that discord.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Thanks Tim for your comments. I think you and Gabriel are both right that some major influential factors are not being considered in this survey.