What does the number of divorces say about the quality of marriages?
Danish couple on their wedding. Photo AFP, John MacDougall
Northern Europe
The number of divorces has been relatively stable in Denmark recently. To what extent does that mean that the quality of marriage has increased?
That is the question Kristeligt Dagblad reflects on. According to Danish statistics, the number of divorces decreased last year. In total, 12,145 Danish couples went separate ways. This number was still 600 higher in 2021.
Professor Gert Martin Hald, an expert in relationship research, does not see the decrease as an immediate reason to be optimistic about the quality of marriages. He points out that the fluctuation in the number of divorces may be caused by administrative changes, such as what happened in 2019. Then, new legislation led to long waiting lists for divorces. The number of people separating dropped that year, but it increased the following year as the requests were processed.
In general, the divorce rate has been relatively stable over the last 30-40 years, Hald says. However, he does notice that the number has steadily declined during the last few years.
Quality
The professor explains that this might be because fewer people marry, and those who choose wedlock are in a more stable relationship. "There may be a tendency for people who commit to marriage to feel more secure in the relationship", he says.
Peter Fallesen from the Rockwool Foundation's Research Unit agrees with Hald. He thinks that fewer, more stable marriages cause the falling number of divorces. Therefore, the divorce rate does not say anything about the quality of relationships, he points out.
"The average Dane has probably not changed over the years. But you have to be married before you can get divorced. Today, many people live together without being married, but with the same mutual obligations as in marriage."
Couple
Søren Marcussen from the Centre of Family Development is more optimistic about the decrease in divorces. Even though he acknowledges that administrative changes may play a role, he hopes that the low number of divorces shows that the approach to separation is also changing. "We have a hope that the drop may also be a sign that family is also being prioritised", he says to Kristeligt Dagblad.
The Centre of Family Development notices that more and more people find it normal to seek help if their relationship is not going too well. "We have more therapists employed today than we had two years ago. And 15 years ago, the focus was more on individual therapy, even in cases of relational problems. Today, many people seek therapy as a couple", Marcussen says.
Related Articles
