Frequency and Predictors of Relationship Dissolution in a community sample in England

The frequency and predictors of separation were examined in a large community sample in the United Kingdom. Over an approximately 2-year time span, from pregnancy to 21 months postnatal, the rates of change varied greatly among different family types, from 5% in families with 2 biological parents and no stepchildren to 38% in complex stepfamilies and 43% in stepmother families. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that separation in 2-parent families was predicted by a complex combination of individual and life-course history variables, including number of previous relationships, cohabiting status, poor relationship quality, low socioeconomic status and younger age. The findings are discussed in the context of previous psychological and sociological studies, and the substantial overlap among identified risk factors is highlighted.