The relationship between the high rate of divorce among young adults in the US and substance abuse

In their article, Collins, Ellickson and Klein (2007) investigate the relationship between

the high rate of divorce among young adults in the US and substance abuse. The authors

introduce the article by outlining the negative effects of divorce on the spouses and their children

such as negative physical and mental health and a higher possibility of another divorce. Children

from divorced spouses experience learning problems, poor physical and mental health, poor

economic outcomes, marital problems and higher probability of engaging in substance abuse.

The authors discuss a number of studies investigating the impact of substance abuse on

marriages.

The hypothesis of this study is that divorce among young adults is caused by substance

abuse in marriage. Collins et al. (2007) predict that smoking, drinking alcohol and using

marijuana and other hard drugs negatively affect the relationship between couples and increase

the probability of divorce.

This study was conducted using data from a survey of 6527 youths who were under

investigation since grade seven up to 29 years of age. The sample was drawn from 30 schools

and this study included 454 participants who were married at the age of 23 years. The

participants of the study completed a survey in which they indicated the rate of the use of

alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and other hard drugs in the past year. The rate of substance use by

the participants during adolescence was also measured. The study also measured the

respondents’ education attainment, financial independence, religiosity and negative mood. The

rate of marital discord was also measured.

The results of the study were consistent with the hypothesis. Substance abuse by young

married adults was positively correlated to divorce. The results revealed that individuals who

overindulged in alcohol at 23 years of age were likely to divorce at 29 years of age. Marijuana

use also led to divorce while the effect of hard drugs was marginal.

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