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Reported reasons for breakdown of marriage and cohabitation in Britain: Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3)

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Listed:
  • Kirsten Gravningen
  • Kirstin R Mitchell
  • Kaye Wellings
  • Anne M Johnson
  • Rebecca Geary
  • Kyle G Jones
  • Soazig Clifton
  • Bob Erens
  • Michelle Lu
  • Chenchit Chayachinda
  • Nigel Field
  • Pam Sonnenberg
  • Catherine H Mercer

Abstract

Objectives: Breakdown of marriage and cohabitation is common in Western countries and is costly for individuals and society. Most research on reasons for breakdown has focused on marriages ending in divorce and/or have used data unrepresentative of the population. We present prevalence estimates of, and differences in, reported reasons for recent breakdown of marriages and cohabitations in Britain. Methods: Descriptive analyses of data from Britain’s third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3), a probability sample survey (15,162 people aged 16–74 years) undertaken 2010–2012, using computer-assisted personal interviewing. We examined participants’ reported reasons for live-in partnership breakdown in the past 5 years and how these varied by gender and partnership type (married vs. cohabitation). Results: Overall, 10.9% (95% CI: 9.9–11.9%) of men and 14.1% (13.2–15.0%) of women reported live-in partnership breakdown in the past 5 years. Mean duration of men’s marriages was 14.2 years (95% CI: 12.8–15.7) vs. cohabitations; 3.5 years (3.0–4.0), and for women: 14.6 years (13.5–15.8) vs. 4.2 years (3.7–4.8). Among 706 men and 1254 women reporting experience of recent breakdown, the reasons ‘grew apart’ (men 39%, women 36%), ‘arguments’ (27%, 30%), ‘unfaithfulness/adultery’ (18%, 24%, p

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  • Kirsten Gravningen & Kirstin R Mitchell & Kaye Wellings & Anne M Johnson & Rebecca Geary & Kyle G Jones & Soazig Clifton & Bob Erens & Michelle Lu & Chenchit Chayachinda & Nigel Field & Pam Sonnenberg, 2017. "Reported reasons for breakdown of marriage and cohabitation in Britain: Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0174129
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174129
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    1. Torkild Hovde Lyngstad & Marika Jalovaara, 2010. "A review of the antecedents of union dissolution," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 23(10), pages 257-292.
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