Divorce Can Spread Like a Virus, Research Suggests

Divorced Couples Contaminate Social Circles Similar To Infectious Diseases

A recent study indicates that one couple getting a divorce can dramatically increase the likelihood of those around them separating, in a pattern that resembles a virus. The paper was published as the result of a longitudinal study conducted over the course of several decades, involving professors and researchers from the University of California San Diego working in conjunction with Brown University and Harvard. Scientists observed patterns in small communities in Massachusetts over several generations.

Researchers coined the term 'social contagion' to describe the phenomenon they witnessed, wherein one instance of divorce can cause a ripple effect to spread throughout the surrounding social circle. According to the study, friends of a divorced couple become far more likely to get divorced themselves, by as much as 147%. Divorce was shown to affect even friends-of-friends, with couples that had no direct relation to the initial divorcees demonstrating increased likelihood as well.

Co-Workers and Families Affected By Social Contagion

The study also showed that an increase in likelihood of divorce was not isolated to friends. Fellow employees of couples undergoing divorce also became more likely to separate from their spouses, by a smaller but still significant factor. Scientists investigating the social contagion effect demonstrated in the study that co-workers of divorcing couples, even those who never spoke to each other outside of the job, became 55% more likely to divorce.

The smallest increase, the study concluded, occurred within families. Though it didn't examine the effect on parents and children, the research showed that siblings of couples seeking a divorce showed a 22% increase in likelihood of separation. The study does not claim to understand why this effect occurs, but the researchers involved did offer a few potential explanations. They theorized that merely by breaking the initial taboo against the practice, a couple opens the door for those around them to consider the possibility of divorce themselves.

A Winnipeg Divorce Attorney Is In Your Corner

If you are seeking more information about divorce, child custody, or any other aspect of family law, it is important that you speak with a qualified  Winnipeg divorce lawyer right away. A professional from the Assiniboia Law Group can answer any question you may have about the oft-complex legal process of divorce. We pride ourselves on the excellent, high quality service we provide to our clients, whether in negotiating a settlement or arguing a case in the courtroom.

Do not hesitate to contact a Winnipeg divorce attorney at our firm to learn more about your options today!