Communications Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00185-x”
width=”800″ height=”530″/>

Divorce, which refers to the legal termination of a marriage, can stem from an array of influences, including shifts in economic circumstances or health issues, alongside differing personal and cultural values. Navigating the end of a marriage can prove to be quite challenging, often impacting the mental health and overall well-being of the former partners.

Globally, the incidence of divorce has significantly risen over the past century. Gaining a deeper insight into the key factors driving individuals to end their marriages could pave the way for more efficient counseling strategies for couples, potentially leading to a decrease in divorce rates.

Recent research conducted by Sari Mentser and Lilach Sagiv at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem focused on the correlation between individual values and divorce. Their findings, published in Communications Psychology, indicate that the interplay between spouses’ cultural and personal values can indeed predict the likelihood of divorce.

“We examined the significance of values in motivating marital dissolution,” stated Mentser and Sagiv in their research. “By utilizing comprehensive frameworks of values, we assessed how cultural values account for cross-national variations in divorce rates and how personal values explain additional differences within nations, alongside the interaction of these two value systems.”

People across the globe hold a wide range of cultural and personal values. Cultural values are essentially shared beliefs linked to societal norms, which may prioritize individual freedom, or stress social stability and tradition.

Conversely, personal values are individual beliefs that directly influence behavior. For instance, one individual might prioritize independence, new experiences, and enjoyment more highly than another individual who might place greater importance on honoring traditions and maintaining social conformity.

Communications Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00185-x”/>

Mentser and Sagiv delved into data from three previous studies encompassing over 100,000 participants across more than 55 countries. The researchers analyzed survey responses regarding participants’ attitudes towards key relationship aspects, divorce, and their marriage histories.

“Our analysis revealed that divorce was more acceptable and likely in nations that prioritize autonomy values and among individuals who place importance on self-direction, excitement, and pleasure,” stated Mentser and Sagiv. “Conversely, divorce was viewed as less justifiable and thus less frequent in nations that emphasize embeddedness values, and among those who prioritize tradition and conformity.”

The findings suggest a correlation between cultural and personal values influencing divorce. Specifically, cultures that promote autonomy (or individual freedom) tend to experience higher divorce rates, while those that value social stability and tradition generally report lower rates.

Similarly, those who ascribe more significance to independence, novel experiences, and pleasure were found to have a higher likelihood of divorce. On the other hand, individuals who value tradition and social harmony were less inclined to end their marriage. Notably, the impact of personal values on divorce was more pronounced in cultures that emphasize autonomy, suggesting an interaction between cultural and personal values.

“Overall, personal values had a more significant impact in cultures that highlighted autonomy over embeddedness values,” commented Mentser and Sagiv. “Understanding the role of values in divorce can empower individuals to discern the qualities they seek in potential partners.”

This recent research by Mentser and Sagiv highlights how values can influence divorce trends across various countries. It opens the door for further studies to explore the observed differences globally, hopefully aiding in a greater understanding of the components that contribute to successful long-term relationships.

© 2025 Science X Network