Is Unemployment Contributing to Divorce? For Men, That Seems To Be The Case

A new study conducted by Liana Sayer of Ohio State University found that a man's unemployment increases his chances of initiating divorce.

After reviewing data of over 3,600 couples from the U.S. National Survey of Families and Households, the study
found that when a man is out of work, he is more likely to choose to end his marriage. The research found that even men who are relatively happy in their marriage are more likely to leave if they are unemployed.

Surprisingly, a woman's employment status was found to have no relation to whether or not her husband will initiate divorce. Additionally, it was found that an employed woman is more likely to initiate a divorce than an unemployed woman, but only when she is highly unsatisfied with her marriage.

Researchers believe the results of the study are related to gender roles in marriage. "These effects probably emanate from the greater change in women's than men's roles," the researchers write. "Women's employment has increased and is accepted, men's nonemployment is unacceptable to many, and there is a cultural ambivalence and lack of institutional support for men taking on 'feminized' roles such as household work and emotional support."