Wife's employment status and marital duration in a population filing for divorce

This study analyzes data from a 2% random sample of all couples who filed for divorce/dissolution in California in each of the 6 years, 1966-1971, in order to examine the relationship between wife's employment status and marital duration to separation. Using exchange theory, anomie theory, and role conflict as basic theoretical perspectives, the elaboration analysis of the zero order relationship is discussed vis a vis the findings that housewives are likely to be married longer before separation than employed wives, except when they marry very young. The analysis shows the enhancement of our zero order relationship for housewives marrying in their 20's, having an education of high school or above, and having been previously married. Furthermore, a causal linkage is posited between wife's employment status, presence of children, and marital duration to separation, which shows the zero order relationship to be non-spurious through the interpretation that occurred when controlling on presence of children.