Personal values prioritizing autonomy over tradition linked to higher divorce rates, study finds

Personal values emphasizing autonomy and pleasure, as opposed to tradition, appear to increase the likelihood of divorce, according to a scientific study. Researchers Sari Mentser and Lilach Sagiv from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem analyzed data from over 100,000 individuals across 55 countries, utilizing frameworks that distinguish between openness to change (autonomy, stimulation, pleasure) and conservation (tradition, conformity, security).

The study revealed a significant correlation at the national level: cultures prioritizing community integration over individual autonomy showed lower divorce-to-marriage ratios. This single factor explained 28% of the variance observed among 59 countries. On an individual level, across 86,436 people from 46 countries, those valuing autonomy, stimulation, and pleasure found divorce more justifiable and were more likely to be divorced. Conversely, individuals prioritizing tradition and conformity viewed divorce as less justifiable and were less likely to divorce.

A third analysis involving 32,588 individuals from 19 European countries reinforced these findings. The impact of individual values on divorce likelihood was more pronounced in autonomous cultures compared to those with strong community integration, where the effect diminished or disappeared for certain values. Interestingly, the value of security did not consistently predict a lower propensity for divorce, contrary to the researchers' initial hypothesis.

The study, published in Communications Psychology, does not statistically analyze the similarity of values between spouses as a divorce predictor. However, the authors suggest that shared values logically lead to shared views on divorce. They also highlight several limitations in their work, emphasizing that their findings indicate correlation rather than causation.