People in Texas are often well-aware that their jobs can affect nearly all areas of life, from mental and physical health to relationship satisfaction. However, career choices could also impact the likelihood of divorce, according to one study conducted on the Danish population. Researchers concluded that people who work around large numbers of other people of the opposite sex are more likely to divorce than people who work in a same-gender environment.
Of course, the study takes into account only opposite-sex partnerships and does not predict divorce outcomes for same-sex marriages. In addition, the Danish population can be very different than the American population in a number of ways. However, the researchers found clear results and a strong trend, particularly for men who worked around large numbers of women. While the effect also existed for women working in male-dominated professions, it was weaker and less powerful than that which existed for men. While other studies have sought to measure the likelihood of divorce based on mixed-gender communities, most adults spend a vast proportion of their lives at work.
The study used a massive sample size – all Danes born in Denmark since 1945 who were married to an opposite-sex partner between 1981 and 2002 and worked in the labor force. Researchers found that men working in construction were less likely to divorce than women, but the highest rate of divorce was found in a mixed-gender industry: hotels, restaurants and hospitality. On the other hand, librarians and farmers were less likely to end their marriages.
People of any profession may encounter serious problems and irreconcilable differences that lead them to end their marriages, despite concerns about the financial and familial effects of this step. When people consider divorce, a family law attorney might be able to provide advice and guidance on the legal issues involved, including child custody and property division.