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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Summary
Children deter divorce only when young. Once children attend school, their presence does not impact marital dissolution. This suggests childcare costs are a key factor in marital stability.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Family Studies
Background:
- Marital dissolution is a significant social phenomenon with complex contributing factors.
- The role of children in marital stability is a widely debated topic in social science research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the presence and age of children and the likelihood of marital separation and divorce.
- To explore the influence of childcare costs as a potential deterrent to marital dissolution.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experience in Women Aged 30 to 44.
- Analyzed data covering the first four years of the survey to track marital outcomes.
- Examined the association between children's ages (preschool vs. school-aged) and marital dissolution.
Main Results:
- Children acted as a deterrent to separation and divorce exclusively during their preschool years.
- Once all children in a family reached school age, their presence did not significantly influence the probability of marital dissolution.
- Preliminary investigation into other socio-demographic variables and their link to marital dissolution was also conducted.
Conclusions:
- The presence of preschool-aged children appears to enhance marital stability, likely due to the significant costs associated with childcare.
- The stabilizing effect of children on marriage diminishes once they are of school age.
- Further research into socio-demographic factors influencing marital dissolution is warranted.
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