Table 1. Demographic profile (percentages) by gender (N=650)
|
Females (n=361) |
Males (n=289) |
|||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
|
|
Sample |
||||
|
Parent sample |
284 |
79 |
229 |
79 |
|
Long-term marriage |
77 |
21 |
60 |
21 |
|
361 |
100 |
289 |
100 |
|
|
State / Territory |
||||
|
VIC |
117 |
32 |
75 |
26 |
|
NSW |
123 |
34 |
100 |
35 |
|
QLD |
62 |
17 |
63 |
22 |
|
SA |
34 |
9 |
33 |
11 |
|
TAS |
13 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
|
ACT |
8 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
|
NT |
4 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
|
361 |
100 |
289 |
100 |
|
|
Geographical location |
||||
|
City* (including ACT) |
216 |
63 |
174 |
63 |
|
Country (excluding NT/TAS) |
128 |
37 |
104 |
37 |
|
344 |
100 |
278 |
100 |
|
|
Education |
||||
|
No post-secondary school |
209 |
58 |
132 |
46 |
|
Diploma/vocational training |
66 |
18 |
98 |
34 |
|
Degree |
85 |
24 |
58 |
20 |
|
360 |
100 |
288 |
100 |
|
|
Employment status |
||||
|
In paid work |
246 |
68 |
225 |
78 |
|
Not in paid work# |
114 |
32 |
64 |
22 |
|
360 |
100 |
289 |
100 |
|
|
Marital status |
||||
|
Single |
254 |
71 |
167 |
58 |
|
De facto |
44 |
12 |
54 |
19 |
|
Re-married |
61 |
17 |
68 |
24 |
|
359 |
100 |
289 |
100 |
|
|
Main source of income |
||||
|
DSS recipient |
116 |
33 |
40 |
12 |
|
Not a DSS recipient |
238 |
67 |
245 |
88 |
|
354 |
100 |
285 |
100 |
|
Notes: Major metropolitan cities were defined in line with Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Divisions. # includes those looking for work. Sub-totals may not sum to respective n because of missing information.
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 2. Demographic profile (averages) by gender (N=650)
|
Females (n=361) |
Males (n=289) |
|||||
|
Median |
Mean |
SD |
Median |
Mean |
SD |
|
|
Age (years) |
42.00 |
42.83 |
8.26 |
45.00 |
45.8 |
9.34 |
|
Years of marriage |
13.00 |
13.97 |
7.83 |
13.00 |
13.96 |
8.18 |
|
Number of years since separation |
6.00 |
5.84 |
2.29 |
6.00 |
5.93 |
2.26 |
|
Personal gross income |
$20,000 |
$23,328 |
$15,467 |
$30,000 |
$37,622 |
$50,583 |
|
Household gross income |
$26,250 |
$34,252 |
25,775 |
$40,000 |
$49,508 |
$55,307 |
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 3. Perception of main reason for marriage breakdown by gender (n=633)
|
Main Reason |
Women (n=354) |
Men (n=279) |
All (n=633) |
|||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
|
|
Affective issues |
||||||
|
Communication problems |
22.6 |
80 |
33.3 |
93 |
27.3 |
173 |
|
Incompatability / ‘drifted apart’ |
19.8 |
70 |
22.6 |
63 |
21.0 |
133 |
|
You or former spouse had an affair |
20.3 |
72 |
19.7 |
55 |
20.1 |
127 |
|
Abusive behaviours |
||||||
|
Physical violence to you or children |
9.6 |
34 |
0.4 |
1 |
5.5 |
35 |
|
Alcohol/drug abuse |
11.3 |
40 |
2.5 |
7 |
7.4 |
47 |
|
Emotional and/or verbal abuse |
2.5 |
9 |
1.1 |
3 |
1.9 |
12 |
|
External pressures |
||||||
|
Financial problems |
4.0 |
14 |
5.7 |
16 |
4.7 |
30 |
|
Work/time |
1.7 |
6 |
3.9 |
11 |
2.7 |
17 |
|
Family interference |
0.3 |
1 |
1.1 |
3 |
.6 |
4 |
|
Physical/mental health |
4.2 |
15 |
5.4 |
15 |
4.7 |
30 |
|
Other |
||||||
|
Spouse’s personality |
0.8 |
3 |
1.4 |
4 |
1.1 |
7 |
|
Children problems |
2.0 |
7 |
.7 |
2 |
1.4 |
9 |
|
Other |
.8 |
3 |
2.2 |
6 |
1.4 |
9 |
Notes: Missing cases=17 (no reason given). c 2(11)=59.38, p<.001 (women’s reports versus men’s reports).
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 4. Collapsed main reason for marriage breakdown, by gender (n=608)
|
Main Reason |
Women (n=341) |
Men (n=267) |
All (n=608) |
|||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
|
|
Affective issues |
65.1 |
222 |
79.0 |
211 |
71.2 |
433 |
|
Abusive behaviours |
24.3 |
83 |
4.1 |
11 |
15.5 |
94 |
|
External pressures |
10.6 |
36 |
16.9 |
45 |
13.3 |
81 |
Notes: Missing cases=25 (problem children, spouse’s personality and other problems) + 17 (no reason given). c 2(2)=48.13, p<.001 (women’s reports versus men’s reports).
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 5. Who initiated the separation, by collapsed main reasons: women’s reports and men’s reports (n=608)
|
Affective issues (n=433) |
External pressures (n=81) |
Abusive behaviours (n=94) |
Total (n=608) |
||||||||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
||||
|
Women’s reports |
|||||||||||
|
Mostly me |
55.4 |
123 |
63.9 |
23 |
88.0 |
73 |
64.2 |
219 |
|||
|
We both did |
19.8 |
44 |
16.7 |
6 |
6.0 |
5 |
16.1 |
55 |
|||
|
Mostly him |
24.8 |
55 |
19.4 |
7 |
6.0 |
5 |
19.6 |
67 |
|||
|
Men’s reports |
|||||||||||
|
Mostly me |
22.0 |
46 |
11.1 |
5 |
36.4 |
4 |
21 |
55 |
|||
|
We both did |
25.4 |
53 |
33.3 |
15 |
18.2 |
2 |
26 |
70 |
|||
|
Mostly her |
52.6 |
110 |
55.6 |
25 |
45.5 |
5 |
53 |
140 |
|||
Notes: Missing cases=25 (problem children, spouse’s personality and other problems) + 17 (no reason given). Women’s reports: c 2(4)=27.91, p<.001. Men’s reports: c 2(4)=4.83, p>.05.
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 6. For those who sought help or advice during the marriage: where sought help or advice, by gender (n=338)
|
Where sought help |
Women (n=206) |
Men (n=132) |
All (n=338) |
|||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
|
|
Counselling/mediation |
71.8 |
148 |
71.2 |
94 |
71.6 |
242 |
|
Church |
16.0 |
33 |
10.6 |
14 |
13.9 |
47 |
|
Friends |
15.0 |
31 |
12.1 |
16 |
13.9 |
47 |
|
Mental health professional |
8.7 |
18 |
12.9 |
17 |
10.4 |
35 |
|
Marriage education |
6.3 |
13 |
12.1 |
16 |
8.6 |
29 |
|
General practitioner |
8.3 |
17 |
8.3 |
11 |
8.3 |
28 |
|
Other |
12.6 |
26 |
6.8 |
9 |
10.4 |
35 |
Note: Missing cases=295 (147 female respondents and 145 male respondents said they did not seek help or advice during the marriage, and 1 female and 2 male respondents could not say whether or not they sought help or advice during the marriage) + 17 (no reason given).
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 7. Whether or not sought help during marriage, by main reason for marriage breakdown: women’s reports and men’s reports (n=608)
|
Whether or not sought help |
Affective issues (n=433) |
External pressures (n=81) |
Abusive behaviours (n=94) |
All (n=608) |
|||||||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
||||
|
Women’s reports |
|||||||||||
|
Sought help |
55.2 |
122 |
61.1 |
22 |
65.1 |
54 |
58.2 |
198 |
|||
|
Didn’t seek help |
44.8 |
99 |
38.9 |
14 |
34.9 |
29 |
41.8 |
142 |
|||
|
Men’s reports |
|||||||||||
|
Sought help |
46.4 |
97 |
51.1 |
23 |
54.5 |
6 |
47.5 |
126 |
|||
|
Didn’t seek help |
53.6 |
112 |
48.9 |
22 |
45.5 |
5 |
52.5 |
139 |
|||
Notes: Missing cases=25 (problem children, spouse’s personality and other problems) + 17 (no reason given). Women’s reports: c 2(2)=2.55, p>.05. Men’s reports: c 2(2)=.553, p>.05.
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 8. Women’s post divorce reflections by main reason for marriage breakdown (n=339)
|
Affective issues (n=220) |
External pressures (n=36) |
Abusive behaviours (n=83) |
All (n=339) |
|||||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
|
|
Divorce better for whose happiness? |
||||||||
|
You |
38.6 |
81 |
56.3 |
18 |
63.9 |
53 |
46.8 |
152 |
|
Former spouse |
20.5 |
43 |
9.4 |
3 |
6.0 |
5 |
15.7 |
51 |
|
Same for both |
41.0 |
86 |
34.4 |
11 |
30.1 |
25 |
37.5 |
122 |
|
In retrospect, would you still have separated? |
||||||||
|
Yes |
77.9 |
155 |
79.4 |
27 |
97.5 |
79 |
83.1 |
261 |
|
No |
22.1 |
44 |
20.6 |
7 |
2.5 |
2 |
16.9 |
53 |
|
How often do you feel you would like to get back? |
||||||||
|
Often |
0.5 |
1 |
5.6 |
2 |
1.2 |
1 |
1.2 |
4 |
|
Sometimes/rarely |
13.6 |
30 |
11.1 |
4 |
2.5 |
2 |
10.7 |
36 |
|
Never |
85.9 |
189 |
83.3 |
30 |
96.3 |
78 |
88.1 |
297 |
|
Divorce outcomes fair? |
||||||||
|
Fair |
26.4 |
56 |
28.6 |
10 |
28.4 |
23 |
27.1 |
89 |
|
Mixed |
53.8 |
114 |
57.1 |
20 |
51.9 |
42 |
53.7 |
176 |
|
Unfair |
19.8 |
42 |
14.3 |
5 |
19.8 |
16 |
19.2 |
63 |
Notes: Missing cases=15 (problem children, spouse’s personality and other problems) + 7 (no reason given). Divorce better for whose happiness?: c 2(4)=19.59, p<.001. In retrospect, would you still have separated?: c 2(2)=16.20, p<.001. How often do you feel you would like to get back?: c 2(4)=14.53, p<.01. Divorce outcomes fair?: c 2(2)=.74, p>.05.
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 9. Men’s post-divorce reflections by main reason for marriage breakdown (n=265)
|
Affective issues (n=209) |
External pressures (n=45) |
Abusive behaviours (n=11) |
All (n=265) |
|||||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
|
|
Divorce better for whose happiness? |
||||||||
|
You |
30.3 |
60 |
25.6 |
11 |
45.5 |
5 |
30.2 |
76 |
|
Former spouse |
21.7 |
43 |
39.5 |
17 |
- |
- |
23.8 |
60 |
|
Same for both |
48.0 |
95 |
34.9 |
15 |
54.5 |
6 |
46.0 |
116 |
|
In retrospect, would you still have separated? |
||||||||
|
Yes |
69.1 |
130 |
58.5 |
24 |
72.7 |
8 |
67.5 |
162 |
|
No |
30.9 |
58 |
41.5 |
17 |
27.3 |
3 |
32.5 |
78 |
|
How often do you feel you would like to get back? |
||||||||
|
Often |
2.9 |
6 |
2.2 |
1 |
- |
- |
2.6 |
7 |
|
Sometimes/rarely |
14.8 |
31 |
20.0 |
9 |
9.1 |
1 |
15.5 |
41 |
|
Never |
82.3 |
172 |
77.8 |
35 |
90.9 |
10 |
81.9 |
217 |
|
Divorce outcomes fair? |
||||||||
|
Fair |
20.0 |
41 |
9 |
20.5 |
27.3 |
3 |
20.4 |
53 |
|
Mixed |
55.1 |
113 |
20 |
45.5 |
63.6 |
7 |
53.8 |
140 |
|
Unfair |
24.9 |
51 |
15 |
34.1 |
9.1 |
1 |
25.8 |
67 |
Notes: Missing cases=14 (problem children, spouse’s personality and other problems) + 10 (no reason given). Divorce better for whose happiness?: c 2(4)=10.10, p<.05. In retrospect, would you still have separated?: c 2(2)=1.87, p>.05. How often do you feel you would like to get back?: c 2(4)=1.51, p>.05. Divorce outcomes fair?: c 2(2)=3.54, p>.05.
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 10. Women’s reports of main reason for marriage breakdown, by aspects of life satisfaction (n=339)
|
Affective issues (n=220) |
External pressures (n=36) |
Abusive behaviours (n=83) |
All (n=339) |
|||||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
|
|
Overall life satisfaction |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
4.5 |
10 |
5.7 |
2 |
2.4 |
2 |
4.1 |
14 |
|
Mixed feelings |
17.7 |
39 |
20.0 |
7 |
19.3 |
16 |
18.3 |
62 |
|
Happy |
77.7 |
171 |
74.3 |
26 |
78.3 |
65 |
77.5 |
262 |
|
Satisfaction with personal/emotional life |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
11.8 |
26 |
8.3 |
3 |
9.6 |
8 |
10.9 |
37 |
|
Mixed feelings |
25.5 |
56 |
30.6 |
11 |
27.7 |
23 |
26.5 |
90 |
|
Happy |
62.7 |
138 |
61.1 |
22 |
62.7 |
52 |
62.5 |
212 |
|
Satisfaction with living standards |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
6.4 |
14 |
11.1 |
4 |
7.2 |
6 |
7.1 |
24 |
|
Mixed feelings |
26.9 |
59 |
33.3 |
12 |
27.7 |
23 |
27.8 |
94 |
|
Happy |
66.7 |
146 |
55.6 |
20 |
65.1 |
54 |
65.1 |
220 |
|
Satisfaction with children’s wellbeing |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
3.0 |
6 |
6.7 |
2 |
5.3 |
4 |
3.9 |
12 |
|
Mixed feelings |
15.5 |
31 |
10.0 |
3 |
6.7 |
5 |
12.8 |
39 |
|
Happy |
81.5 |
163 |
83.3 |
25 |
88.0 |
66 |
83.3 |
254 |
Notes: Missing cases=15 (problem children, spouse’s personality and other problems) + 7 (no reason given). Overall life satisfaction: c 2(4)=1.09, p>.05. Satisfaction with personal/ emotional life: c 2(4)=.88, p>.05. Satisfaction with living standards: c 2(4)=2.01, p>.05.
Satisfaction with children’s wellbeing: c 2(4)=5.19, p>.05.
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.
Table 11. Men’s reports of main reason for marriage breakdown, by aspects of life satisfaction (n=267)
|
Affective issues (n=211) |
External pressures (n=45) |
Abusive behaviours (n=11) |
All (n=267) |
|||||
|
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
% |
n |
|
|
Overall life satisfaction |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
6.2 |
13 |
20.0 |
9 |
- |
- |
8.2 |
22 |
|
Mixed feelings |
28.9 |
61 |
31.1 |
14 |
27.3 |
3 |
29.2 |
78 |
|
Happy |
64.9 |
137 |
48.9 |
22 |
72.7 |
8 |
62.5 |
167 |
|
Satisfaction with personal/emotional life |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
11.8 |
25 |
31.1 |
14 |
- |
- |
14.6 |
39 |
|
Mixed feelings |
26.1 |
55 |
20.0 |
9 |
18.2 |
2 |
24.7 |
66 |
|
Happy |
62.1 |
131 |
48.9 |
22 |
81.8 |
9 |
60.7 |
162 |
|
Satisfaction with living standards |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
8.5 |
18 |
15.6 |
7 |
- |
- |
9.4 |
25 |
|
Mixed feelings |
33.2 |
70 |
35.6 |
16 |
36.4 |
4 |
33.7 |
90 |
|
Happy |
58.3 |
123 |
48.9 |
22 |
63.6 |
7 |
56.9 |
152 |
|
Satisfaction with children’s wellbeing |
||||||||
|
Unhappy |
7.5 |
13 |
22.0 |
9 |
22.2 |
2 |
10.8 |
24 |
|
Mixed feelings |
19.1 |
33 |
17.1 |
7 |
11.1 |
1 |
18.4 |
41 |
|
Happy |
73.4 |
127 |
61.0 |
25 |
66.7 |
6 |
70.9 |
158 |
Notes: Missing cases=12 (problem children, spouse’s personality and other problems) + 10 (no reason given). Overall life satisfaction: c 2(4)= 11.36, p<.05. Satisfaction with personal/ emotional life: c 2(4)=13.76, p<.01. Satisfaction with living standards: c 2(4)=3.78, p>.05.
Satisfaction with children’s wellbeing: c 2(4)=8.65, p>.05.
Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 1999.