Divorce myths busted

Although by definition a statistic is a numerical fact, they can be easy to twist. Often statistics can be skewed to help argue a point, or emphasise a trend. So in order to set us straight, recent Australian Bureau of Statistics supported research by social analysts McCrindle Research was aimed at busting some of the great myths about our everyday lives.

One of the biggest myths that the research tackled was the divorce rate in Australia. It’s common to hear that half of all marriages end in divorce. The research revealed, however, that in Australia it is actually 1 in 3 marriages that end in divorce. Not only is the divorce rate declining, but so too are the actual number of divorces.

Another common divorce ‘myth’ that the research addressed was the ‘7 year itch’. Contrary to the common turn of phrase, the average marriage actually lasts longer than 7 years. In reality, marriages break down after approximately 12.3 years.

Other myths the research upset is that in line with the government’s Baby Bonus, the fertility rate would increase and there would be an increased incidence of young and single mums. The research showed, however, that the fertility rate has not actually increased with the government’s financial support for new mums, and that the birth rate of teenagers had dropped in the past 10 years.

Although unrelated to family law, the research also dealt with thinking around child obesity. Despite obesity rates being on the rise, parents won’t outlive their children. The rate of child mortality has halved since 1990.

According to social analyst Mark McCrindle, myths – such as those around divorce – often become accepted because figures and percentages can give them an element of believability, even if those figures and percentages are misleading.

Did you previously believe any of these myths? Are you heartened that Australia’s divorce rate is 1 in 3?