ALTHOUGH DIVORCE INITIALLY affects individual families, sociologists worry about a number of potential consequences for society as a whole, particularly with divorce rates in America remaining in the range of 50 percent. With this statistic in mind, many therapists, researchers, and lawmakers are searching for ways to prevent divorce from happening or at least reduce the number of divorces that occur in the country. Others concentrate on easing the traumatic blow of divorce when it does happen, to prevent the most serious consequences for society. Efforts in all of these directions have been ongoing for many years, with a variety of options pursued.

Divorce affects society

Experts agree that there are clear repercussions for society when divorce rates are high. When the effects on each child, parent, and family are multiplied in high numbers across the country, government resources are strained...