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No ‘divorce boom’ in sight

OUR latest analysis of survey data from September shows that those seriously considering divorce are still well down on pre-COVID levels.

Several articles in the media have anticipated a post-lockdown ‘divorce boom’ on the basis of online enquiries and google searches.
We have previously published analysis of June survey data from UK Household Longitudinal Study revealing twice as many marriages had improved rather than deteriorated during lockdown #1. Moreover the proportion of parents actively considering divorce was down by two thirds on pre-COVID levels (Benson & McKay 2020).
This new analysis of September survey data from UKLHS on 3,005 parents shows little change in couple relationship indicators – relationship happiness, frequency of getting on each other’s nerves and quarrels, regrets about marriage, and couples actively considering divorce.
In other words, up until September, there was no sign whatsoever of a pending ‘divorce boom’ as regards those saying they were considering divorce.
This is supported by Ministry of Justice data showing a fall in the number of divorce petitions during the third quarter of 2020.
As we have highlighted previously, cohabiting mothers struggled most during lockdown, with 22% saying their relationship had got worse compared to 7% of married mothers, 6% of cohabiting and 11% of married fathers. They were also more likely than married parents to be unhappy, get on nerves or quarrel often.
Our updated analysis shows that this situation had remained largely unchanged in September.
Although stress levels in parental relationships were apparent in June and September, lockdown appears to have affirmed the commitment of married parents and exposed the insecurity faced especially by a significant proportion of cohabiting mothers.

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Media Links

Mail on Sunday – Covid lockdown ‘WON’T lead to a soaring divorce rate’ across the UK, shows new research

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