Is Divorce Contagious? Not Everyone Thinks So.

Research done by three professors from the Harvard University, Brown University, and the University of California, San Diego, has found that the chance of a person getting divorced raises considerably when someone in their close social circle gets a divorce.

"Think of this 'idea' of getting divorced, this 'option' of getting divorced like a virus, because it spreads more or less the same way," James Fowler, one of the professors facilitating the study, told "Good Morning America".

The study looked at data from several generations of people in Framingham, Massachusetts, starting in the 1970s. Research from the study found that being close friends with someone increases a person's odds of a divorce by 75%. Additionally, people with divorced friends in their large social circles are 147% more likely to get divorce than people whose friends are still married. The study also found that having a sibling who gets divorced makes a person 22% more likely to get a divorce.

But this reserach has stirred up quite a bit of controversy among professionals. "I think this statement insults the integrity of every person who finds themselves facing this incredibly difficult choice," says therapist Susan Pease Gadoua. "I am not ready to conclude that most of us are that impressionable when it comes to the dissolution of a marriage and family."

Others believe that it is not divorce that is contagious, but something else. "I don't think very many couples take divorce lightly. When they see their friends divorce, they don't just shrug and decide to of the same thing themselves. Maybe what's contagious isn't just divorce, but reflection and contemplation. Maybe even courage," says Bella DePaulo, a professor from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Despite the controversy, one thing remains clear: choosing to get a divorce is a serious, life-changing decision, and it is important to do the soul-searching and get the education needed to make the best choice for you, no matter what your peers are doing. If you are considering divorce, check out these articles on good and bad reasons for getting a divorce:
* 5 Good Reasons for Getting a Divorce
* 3 Bad Reasons to Choose Divorce