Studies
carried out on a marriage breakdown found many reasons e.g. marrying too early, poor communication, basic
unhappiness, loss of love, incompatibility, infidelity, mental illness,
emotional problems, deception over expectations of roles, low education, low
income, parental divorce, early pregnancy, interpersonal conflict, just to name
a few. It is also found that very often divorce is very much associated with
economic circumstances and if the couple’s financial situation is stable, the
couple has one thing less to argue about.
On
the other hand, the Institute has identified the following attributes of
healthy couples are: a sense of respect and feeling appreciated, trust and
fidelity, good sexual relations, good communication, shared values, cooperation
and mutual support, enjoyment of shared time, a sense of spirituality and the
ability to be flexible when confronted with frustrations and changes,
appreciation for each other.
Commenting
on the decline in divorce, Peter Macdonald, Head of Demographics at the Australia National University ,
found that one reason for the divorce in decline, could be the trend of living
together before marriage. He said that in 2008, seventy-eight percent of
marriages were preceded by a couple cohabiting.
The
economic argument also looks valid towards the longer duration of some
marriages. The Australian economy has been strong for the past decade, and
there has been a low rate of unemployment. The economy of Australia was not so much affected during the
Global Financial Crisis in 2008 and we did not face any recession as opposed to
USA
and other European countries. As the economy continues to grow with the
unprecedented mining boom, and record exports to China , and the other Asian Countries,
this seems to have positive impact both on the economy as well as on social
life. It coincides with the fact that families seem to be sticking tougher
more.
Another
factor contributing to the decline of divorce is the new composition of
Australian population i.e. the increasingly
Australia
multiculturalism. According to
the population census conducted last year, 27 percent of Australian residents were
born overseas and increasingly, coming from South East Asia .
According
to the Australian Bureau of Statistics,
“From the beginning of the 1970s until the late 1980s, the proportion of
the population born overseas remained steady at about 20% and, following an
increase in immigration levels at the end of the 1980s, rose to 23% in 1990.
Further arrivals of migrants in the 1990s and 2000s contributed to the increase
in the overseas-born population, with their proportion of the overall resident
population rising to 27% by 30 June 2010.”
The census also shows
that the fastest growing community is to be those coming from India . These new migrants usually
have a strong belief in spirituality, marriage and family life. As the Family
Institute study found that spirituality is a contributing factor to longer
relationship, divorce rate in these Asian communities is consequently very low.
This also contributes to getting the numbers of marriage up and the rate
divorce down.
My
neighbours, a young couple coming from India , explained:
“Marriage is sacred in the Hindu religion. Very often
marriage is arranged by the two families who consequently become very close, a small
community is formed. The lengthy ceremony of marriage itself denotes how
important this event is. There is always “surveillance” from the parents to see
that the marriage works. A breakdown
is a shame to both families.”
The
overall news that divorce is in decline, means that there is less family
breakdowns and less suffering both for the couples and particularly for
children. Fewer divorces denote more stability on the social front which also
have positive outcome for the economy at the individual, family and national levels.
This
is indeed good news for the whole Australian society.
Sources:
The
Institute of Family Studies www.afs.gov.au
The
family Law Court
www.familylawcourts.gov.au
The
Australian Bureau of Statistics: www.abs.gov.au/
The
Sydney Morning Herald, Sept 2001
The
Age Sept 2009