Marriage breakdown in Australia: social correlates, gender and initiator status
Social Policy Research Paper 35 / Belinda Hewitt. June 2008
This paper aims to obtain a better understanding of marriage breakdown in the Australian context, with a particular focus on gender differences in the social correlates of marriage breakdown.The report analyses retrospective data from all persons who were currently or had been previously married at Wave 1 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey (2001).
The findings are grouped into three main themes:
- Social characteristics are important for understanding marriage breakdown.
- Women are more likely to initiate separation than men.
- Gender differences in the decision to separate or remain married.
Social Policy Research Paper 35 | PDF [588kB]