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Separation in Canada: new insights concerning marital dissolution
Canadian Journal of Sociology = Cahiers Canadiens De Sociologie
|July 1, 1981
Summary
Separation is a common stage between marriage and divorce in Canada, often exceeding divorce rates across all age groups. Relying solely on divorce statistics underestimates the true extent of marital dissolution.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Family Studies
Background:
- Marriage and divorce are key demographic events.
- Separation represents an intermediate marital status.
- Marital dissolution statistics often focus primarily on divorce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the prevalence of marital separation in Canada.
- To compare separation rates with divorce rates.
- To highlight the significance of separation in understanding marital dissolution.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of special cross-tabulations from the 1976 Census of Canada.
- Examination of population data by age, sex, and province.
- Statistical comparison of separation and divorce proportions.
Main Results:
- Separation proportions equal or exceed divorce proportions across all age categories from fifteen years upwards.
- The disparity between separation and divorce rates is most pronounced in younger and older age groups.
- Significant variations in separation and divorce levels are observed by sex and across Canadian provinces.
Conclusions:
- Marital separation is a substantial demographic phenomenon in Canada.
- Divorce statistics alone provide an incomplete picture of marital dissolution.
- A comprehensive understanding requires considering both separation and divorce data.