Effects of Childhood Family Background on Adult Marital Quality and Perceived Stability

Abstract

The authors examine the effect of various single-parent childhood family structures on adult marital quality and perceived stability. The authors find no important differences in marital happiness by family history. However, among adults in less than very happy marriages, both adult children of divorce and adults who never lived with their father report significantly higher chances of divorce than those from two-parent families. Among those in relatively unhappy marriages, children of divorce more often report patterns of interaction that are likely to strain a marital relationship. Children of divorce are significantly more likely than those from two-parent families to have thought their marriage may be in trouble.