Anglia Counselling Reports on the Rise of Divorce and the Single Parent Family in the UK

• 

In the U.K in 2012 there were a recorded two million single parents, up four hundred thousand from 1996

Newmarket, Suffolk (PRWEB UK) 31 January 2013

Reviewing some of the demographics for couples and individuals who presented for relationship advice, and for their individual emotional and mental health conditions; research shows that in the U.K, in 2012 there were a recorded two million single parents, up four hundred thousand from 1996. [1]

Recorded figures below represent combined ages at divorce for husband and wife (2011) England and Wales [2]

Combined
Ages

30-34             18,020
35-39             20,285
40-44             22,370
45-49             19,307
50-59             18,260

(Excluded, are age ranges above and below these; they are considerably smaller than this group)

What's driving and sustaining this increase?

Of interest may be the reasons the combined age ranges of both men and women who divorce fall between ages thirty and sixty years.

What is the cause in this cohort effect?
Opinions suggest aspects of society and marriage that will be unsurprising to many.

•     Financial pressures from debt, job loss, or over-expenditure.
•     Stress at work...and then brought home
•     Communications failing in the relationship
•     Infidelity, with social media influences increasingly cited[3]
•     Negative cognitive responses and behaviours based on individuals life prior to relationship
•     Addictive behaviours. Physical/emotional abuse, gambling, alcohol and illicit drugs

Impact on children – and the chain
It is well documented how children are emotionally affected long before a family separation or subsequent divorce takes place. This may then influence how they respond to their parental responsibilities, as well as their relationships. This chain, however, has the potential to be broken when talking therapies are accepted, such as counselling - and strategies for the daily thought processes to be more balanced are implemented.

Great expectations
Life is very different today when considering the overall access to each other, work and information. Social media is also undoubtedly impacting on the days 'must-do' list, decreasing our personal awareness and relationships within the family

Powerless to change
Many individuals within a relationship suggest they are victims to circumstances. Earlier life experiences are known to influence current behaviours – but can be managed more healthily if addressed and considered.

From the dataset above, the largest group falls within the ages 30-60 years of age. When asked, these individuals have often failed to access – or be provided with the care required.

At initial client assessment, a significant seventy percent of individuals had never sought meaningful intervention by way of a talking therapy. Moreover, at exit interview 80% of sample [4] from 2012 recorded significant improvement in their individual emotional and mental health, and significantly, those of their relationships thanks to greater awareness of self, of lifestyle, and of others.    

The growing trend analysis for couples divorcing, and the subsequent impact on themselves , and on the next generation is something that may require us to consider where the responsibility lies. In accepting methods of therapy or guidance early on, this process can be relatively short in duration to help achieve meaningful strategies for a more sustainable loving family unit.

1- ONS – Office National Statistics http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/family-demography/families-and-households/2012/index.html
2 – ONS - http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/datasets-and-tables/index.html?pageSize=50&sortBy=none&sortDirection=none&newquery=divorce+rates&content-type=Reference+table&content-type=Dataset
3 – http://www.scienceofrelationships.com/home/2011/3/29/does-facebook-cause-divorce-and-infidelity.html
4 - Based on data sourced from authors private practice angliacounselling(dot)co(dot)uk

PDF Print