The divorce rate for Americans is not what it used to be. Older couples are still splitting up at an increasing rate, but younger generations have a far lower divorce rate.
If you’ve noticed this change over the generations, you may find yourself wondering why it happened. The truth is that there are many different reasons that all contribute. Here are just three of them to consider.
Waiting longer
First of all, younger couples tend to get married at an older age. There is evidence that getting married around 28 or 32 years old increases the stability of the marriage, when compared to getting married at 18 or 20 years old. Previous generations got married younger and subsequently had higher divorce rates.
More selective
Additionally, some reports claim that couples today are more selective than they were in the past. Previous generations may have felt pressure to get married to achieve financial security, for instance. But young couples in 2024 are more selective in choosing their partners and they look for someone they actually want to be with long-term. This focus on compatibility can make a marriage more stable.
Common cohabitation
Finally, many couples cohabitate prior to marriage, something that wasn’t as common with previous generations. Some of these relationships still end when the couples break up, but they do not count in the divorce statistics. Fifty years ago, these couples may have gotten married at a young age and then gotten divorced. Today, they just cohabitate and break up without the official divorce process.
Divorce is complicated and always changing. Those who are going through the process must know about their legal options.