Abstract/Details

The rise of divorce in developed countries since 1960: A comparative study of law, opportunity and values

Lye, Diane Noreen.   University of Pennsylvania ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  1989. 8922558.

Abstract (summary)

The divorce rate has risen sharply in all western countries since the late 1960s. This study investigates the causes of the trend and the sources of variation in divorce rates between countries. Age specific divorce rates are presented for fifteen countries from 1960 to 1984. The trend in divorce is analysed using decomposition analysis and age-period cohort models. Three explanations for the upward trend are examined: changing divorce laws, rising economic opportunities and shifting family values. Cross-national analyses reveal that divorce law liberalisation had only short term effects on the divorce rate and can not be considered the underlying cause of the increase. Both rising economic opportunities, particularly the expansion of service sector employment opportunities for women, and shifts in family values, and in the normative definition of appropriate adult roles do appear to be related to the increase in divorce rates.

Indexing (details)


Subject
Demographics;
Families & family life;
Personal relationships;
Sociology;
Individual & family studies;
Demography
Classification
0938: Demography
0628: Individual & family studies
0626: Sociology
Identifier / keyword
Social sciences
Title
The rise of divorce in developed countries since 1960: A comparative study of law, opportunity and values
Author
Lye, Diane Noreen
Number of pages
511
Degree date
1989
School code
0175
Source
DAI-A 50/07, Dissertation Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
ISBN
979-8-207-03941-1
Advisor
Preston, Samuel H.
University/institution
University of Pennsylvania
University location
United States -- Pennsylvania
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
8922558
ProQuest document ID
303791146
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/docview/303791146