Well Bing couldn't do a breakdown. I got this though -
That's a good question. According to the web search results I found, there is no clear-cut answer to how the number of children affects the divorce rate of couples. Different studies have found different results, depending on the methods, data, and variables they used. However, some general trends can be observed from the available statistics.
One trend is that the divorce rate tends to be lower for couples who have more than one child, compared to those who have only one child or none. This could be because having more children strengthens the bond between the parents, provides more social and emotional support, and increases the costs and difficulties of divorce¹⁴. However, this trend may not hold for couples who have very large families (more than four children), as they may face more financial and psychological stress⁴.
Another trend is that the divorce rate tends to be higher for couples who have children before marriage, compared to those who have children after marriage or not at all. This could be because having children before marriage may indicate lower levels of commitment, compatibility, and stability between the partners, or may result from unplanned pregnancies or social pressure¹⁴. However, this trend may not apply to couples who cohabit before marriage, as they may have similar levels of relationship quality and satisfaction as married couples⁴.
A third trend is that the divorce rate tends to vary by the age and gender of the children. Some studies have found that couples are more likely to divorce when their children are young (under 18 years), especially if they are teenagers or adolescents¹⁴. This could be because younger children require more time, attention, and resources from their parents, which may reduce their marital satisfaction and increase their conflict and stress⁴. Other studies have found that couples are more likely to divorce when their children are older (over 18 years), especially if they are daughters¹⁴. This could be because older children may act as a source of emotional support or a barrier to divorce for their parents, or may influence their parents' decision to divorce based on their own preferences or experiences⁴.
As you can see, there are many factors that influence the relationship between the number of children and the divorce rate of couples. It is important to note that these factors are not deterministic or causal, but rather correlational and conditional. That is, they do not necessarily cause or predict divorce, but rather reflect or modify the likelihood of divorce under certain circumstances. Therefore, it is difficult to make generalizations or comparisons based on the number of children alone. Each couple's situation is unique and complex, and depends on a variety of personal, interpersonal, social, and economic factors.
I hope this answer gives you some insight into this topic. If you want to learn more, you can check out the web search results I have provided for you¹²³⁴⁵. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Ah.. I see where I went wrong. Totally forgot that broken home literally referred to divorced or separated. Probably shouldn't have included that in my wording.
My primary concern was on whether or not having too many kids "might" do more harm than good, depending financial and psychological circumstances. I'd generally leave that decision up to the parents to assess what they think will work best for them, according to what they have to work with.
And I don't think just blanket pushing for large families is necessarily going to work out well for everyone, regardless of divorce statistics.
Actually stats show the more children the less likely a broken home
In some cases maybe, but I'd wager that a lot of that depends on a lot more than offspring numbers as a variable.
Try showing me the same stats in families with a history of mental illness, bad genes, and/or extreme poverty.
Well Bing couldn't do a breakdown. I got this though -
That's a good question. According to the web search results I found, there is no clear-cut answer to how the number of children affects the divorce rate of couples. Different studies have found different results, depending on the methods, data, and variables they used. However, some general trends can be observed from the available statistics.
One trend is that the divorce rate tends to be lower for couples who have more than one child, compared to those who have only one child or none. This could be because having more children strengthens the bond between the parents, provides more social and emotional support, and increases the costs and difficulties of divorce¹⁴. However, this trend may not hold for couples who have very large families (more than four children), as they may face more financial and psychological stress⁴.
Another trend is that the divorce rate tends to be higher for couples who have children before marriage, compared to those who have children after marriage or not at all. This could be because having children before marriage may indicate lower levels of commitment, compatibility, and stability between the partners, or may result from unplanned pregnancies or social pressure¹⁴. However, this trend may not apply to couples who cohabit before marriage, as they may have similar levels of relationship quality and satisfaction as married couples⁴.
A third trend is that the divorce rate tends to vary by the age and gender of the children. Some studies have found that couples are more likely to divorce when their children are young (under 18 years), especially if they are teenagers or adolescents¹⁴. This could be because younger children require more time, attention, and resources from their parents, which may reduce their marital satisfaction and increase their conflict and stress⁴. Other studies have found that couples are more likely to divorce when their children are older (over 18 years), especially if they are daughters¹⁴. This could be because older children may act as a source of emotional support or a barrier to divorce for their parents, or may influence their parents' decision to divorce based on their own preferences or experiences⁴.
As you can see, there are many factors that influence the relationship between the number of children and the divorce rate of couples. It is important to note that these factors are not deterministic or causal, but rather correlational and conditional. That is, they do not necessarily cause or predict divorce, but rather reflect or modify the likelihood of divorce under certain circumstances. Therefore, it is difficult to make generalizations or comparisons based on the number of children alone. Each couple's situation is unique and complex, and depends on a variety of personal, interpersonal, social, and economic factors.
I hope this answer gives you some insight into this topic. If you want to learn more, you can check out the web search results I have provided for you¹²³⁴⁵. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Source: Conversation with Bing, 26/07/2023 (1) Divorces in Australia | Australian Institute of Family Studies - AIFS. https://aifs.gov.au/research/facts-and-figures/divorces-australia. (2) 13 Devastating Children of Divorce Statistics - legal jobs. https://legaljobs.io/blog/children-of-divorce-statistics/. (3) Marriages and Divorces, Australia - Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/marriages-and-divorces-australia/latest-release. (4) Does Having Kids Statistically Increase Your Chances of Divorce? It's .... https://www.romper.com/p/does-having-kids-statistically-increase-your-chances-of-divorce-its-complicated-9064206. (5) Divorces in Australia | Australian Institute of Family Studies - AIFS. https://aifs.gov.au/research/facts-and-figures/divorces-australia-2023.
Ah.. I see where I went wrong. Totally forgot that broken home literally referred to divorced or separated. Probably shouldn't have included that in my wording.
My primary concern was on whether or not having too many kids "might" do more harm than good, depending financial and psychological circumstances. I'd generally leave that decision up to the parents to assess what they think will work best for them, according to what they have to work with.
And I don't think just blanket pushing for large families is necessarily going to work out well for everyone, regardless of divorce statistics.