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Family: Divorce Rate Indicator DuPage County’s divorce rates decline slightly.
About the Indicator The divorce rate was chosen as an indicator because it is a measure of the general stability of families in DuPage County. The rates calculated in these charts represent the total number of divorces in a given year as a percentage of the total number of marriages in that same year. It does not represent the proportion of all marriages that end in divorce, or the percentage of divorced households in the county. Observations Since 1996, the divorce rate for DuPage County has remained near 50 percent, with the actual number of divorces remaining in the range of 2,600 to 2,900. Although the county’s divorce rate consistently exceeds the state rate, this statistic is somewhat misleading. A higher rate could reflect a relatively low number of new marriages, not necessarily a relatively high number of divorces. So if the population of DuPage County consists of a high proportion of married couple families with young children, new marriages in the county are likely to be low, which would push the divorce rate up. This indicator should be looked at in conjunction with data on the proportion of children living in two-parent households, which is presented as part of the Child Care indicator. These data show that 83 percent of children in DuPage County live with married couples, compared with only 67 percent of all Illinois children. Tapestry Divorce is an indicator of family distress, which can be caused by a number of factors, sometimes economic in nature, but often not. Divorce is linked to other indicators of family distress, such as an increased incidence of domestic or child abuse. Divorce can negatively impact a community, particularly if there are children involved. Families broken up by divorce may be left with lower household incomes and may find it difficult to afford housing and adequate childcare. Indeed, finding good childcare may be a concern even for divorced couples with higher incomes. Moreover, child support battles may ensue, and the potential for child neglect may increase. COMMENTARY By Judge Robert J. Anderson, 18TH Judicial Circuit Court “For almost every family, divorce will have a negative effect on income level, the amount of time parents have to supervise and spend with their children, and the overall psychological health of both parents and children. Sadly, a divorce often turns into a war between the parents, with the children as the battlefield. Ultimately, the children are the casualties of that war as well. As a judge, I have repeatedly seen parents who love their children do terrible things to them as they go through a divorce. Often, the parent believes that these things will benefit the children, but that is rarely the case. If the ratio of divorces to marriages is a measure of the stability of families in a community, then families in DuPage County are not as stable as families throughout the rest of the state. As a community, we need to work together to lower this ratio and deal with the problems created by divorce. Wounds to our children and our families tear apart the fabric of our society. These wounds do not heal quickly and have long term consequences for our community.” How to Get Involved or Learn More:
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