Causes of Divorce admin: Source: Click here for source article.
How poverty is pushing families into divorce
The divorce rate has stabilised among the middle class but is increasing among the poor, explaining why many separated fathers pay little or no child support.
A new study reveals that financial hardship is a major cause of family breakdown. Low-income parents are more likely than others to break up - and they remain poor after the split.
More than 40 per cent of the separated fathers in 2001 had a taxable income of less than $15,600. Most were unemployed or in marginal jobs. Overall, despite general economic prosperity, nearly 68 per cent of the separated fathers had incomes of less than $32,000.
As a result, their former partners also experienced desperate financial circumstances. Three-quarters of the mothers were raising children on annual incomes of less than $15,600 plus $2000 to $3000 in family tax benefits.
But it found no evidence to support anecdotes that many separated fathers artificially lowered their income to avoid paying child support. Many of them remained poor over years. For the mothers and children, this meant child support payments were as low as $920 a year for one child or non-existent.
Many men had not kept up payments. But a father on $15,600 would have only $13,000 to live on after paying the required child support and tax, the study says.
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Re:Causes of Divorce janee: Makes sense. My stbx and I lost our jobs about 2 years ago. That's when our marriage started going down the tubes. We had a rocky relationship to start, but that was the catalyst. He started drinking more, became more verbally abusive, etc. After months of not working, he relocated to another state to find work. Did not succeed but decided to remain down there. Even imported his loser friends, knowing how much it would upset me. He did not care.
Realized while he was away, I was getting back in touch with myself. Did not have to put up with the abuse any longer. Looking back, I believe he was looking for an excuse to get out of this marriage. What husband would leave their wife behind for more than 1 month, unless in military or a contract job? He should of come back, but did not. I had a feeling when he left, it would eventually be over between us. The final straw was his friends told him I was having an affair and he believed them. So go figure. I am better off being away from those people.
Re: Causes of Divorce smokin: marriage is the number 1 and leading cause of divorce....... ::)
Re: Causes of Divorce Mooneyes: I think in addition to the stress financial problems add to marriage, low income also means that one doesn't have the means to buy services that might aid a marriage. This could be marriage counseling or personal counseling; babystitting to spend quality time with ones spouse, or even just not work multiple jobs. I have often thought that I might still be married had my spouse and I had more money. Although of late, I am not sure if I still believe it.
Re: Causes of Divorce surfdog: There also seems to be an alarming number of women in there 30's leaving there husbands. Educated, career driven women that seem to want some claim to total independence. I am in full support of women making lots of money and climbing the career ladder of success. It is just sad that this is a cause of breakdown in marriage. I know...I was on the other end.
