Mohsen Bazargan, PhD.
Professor
President of Academic Senate
Director of Research
Department of Family Medicine
Public Health Program
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
May 20, 2015
Kermanshah – Islamic Republic of Iran
Percentage of Divorce in
USA
First marriage:
41 - 50%
Second marriage: 60 - 67%
Third marriage:
73 - 74%
Who Initiates the Divorce
Age at marriage for those who divorce in USA
Age Groups
Women
Men
Under 20 years old
28%
12%
20 to 24 years old
37%
39%
25 to 29 years old
16%
22%
30 to 34 years old
9%
12%
35 to 39 years old
5%
7%
Divorce Statistics In USA
A shocking 62% of unmarried U.S.
residents 18 and older reported
never being married
24% were divorced
14% were widowed
Children of Divorced Families
In the United States, about 40% of couples
with children have divorced
Who Initiate the Divorce
It has been shown that women initiate divorce
more than men. According to recent studies, 6070% of U.S. divorce filings have been by women
Up to 80% of children of divorced families are
placed primarily in the custody of the biological
mother
Physical Violence Against Women in
USA
More than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 4
men reported physical violence by an intimate
partner
Nearly 15% of women report being injured as
a result of intimate partner violence in their
lifetimes
Physical Violence Against Women in
USA
It is estimated that among women, about 5.3
million incidents of domestic violence are reported
annually
About 24% of women have been the victim of
severe physical violence by an intimate partner in
their lifetime
Physical Violence Against
Women in USA
The majority of female victims of
intimate partner violence are
repeatedly abused by same offender.
Approximately 22-35% of women with
domestic violence related symptoms
seek care at emergency departments.
Infidelity and Divorce and Spousal
Battering
Infidelity is a major cause of divorce and
spousal battering
Psychological Suffering of
Infidelity
Anguish, psychological pain,
depression, anger, and
humiliation are among the
emotional experiences of the
partner of someone who has
been unfaithful
Suffering of Women
Empirical evidence suggests
that the suffering of women is
no less than that of men,
especially if the affair is
accompanied by emotional
involvement
Physical Violence Against Women in USA
Age trends: Females age 18-24 and 25-34
generally experienced the highest rates of IPV
Economic Trends: Poorer women experience
significantly more domestic violence than
higher income women
Marital status: Divorced or separated women
are subjected to the highest rates of intimate
partner victimization, followed by nevermarried persons
Lifetime Prevalence of Physical Violence by
an Intimate Partner by Race/Ethnicity
Multiracial (50%)
American Indian (46%)
African American (41%)
Hispanic (35%)
White (32%)
How do children of divorce react to counseling by age
group?
• Early Latency (ages 5-8). Children that are in
this age group at the time of their parents'
divorce tend to react with great sadness. Some
may feel fearful, insecure, helpless and
abandoned by the missing parent
• The younger children in this group often
express guilt and blame themselves for their
parents' divorce
How do children of divorce react to counseling by
age group?
• Late Latency (ages 9-12). Children in late
latency at the time of their parents' divorce
are distinguished from younger children by
their feelings of intense anger
• They may still feel loneliness, loss, shock,
surprise, and fear, but anger and possibly
the rejection of one parent are the
predominant reactions of this age group
How do children of divorce react to
counseling by age group?
• Adolescence (ages 13-18). Adolescents whose
parents are divorcing also experience loss,
sadness, anger, and pain. A typical adolescent
reaction to parental divorce, however, often
involves acting-out behaviors
• Sexual promiscuity, delinquency, the use of
alcohol and drugs, and aggressive behavior
have all been identified as adolescent reactions
to parental divorce
Personality Factor and
Susceptibility to Infidelity
Personality factors most strongly linked to
susceptibility to infidelity are low
Conscientiousness, high Narcissism, and
high Psychoticism
Relationship contexts most strongly linked to
susceptibility to infidelity include sexual
dissatisfaction, and specific sources of
conflict such as partner complaints about
jealousy
Rate of Affairs
Estimates of American men involved in
extramarital affairs range from 22% to 75%;
whereas, estimates for women range from
14% to 60%
It is estimated that 30-60% of all married
individuals in the United States will engage in
infidelity at some point during their marriage
Infidelity and Divorce
In the United States, about 17% of all divorces
are due to adultery on the part of either or
both partners
Furthermore, nearly 31% of marriages last after
an affair has been admitted to or discovered
Interestingly, 74% of men and 68% of women
claim they would engage in infidelity if they
would never get caught
Structure of Family: Feminist
Movement
• According to the Michigan Family Review, feminism has
revolutionized the structure of family experience, conceptualized
family forms and family processes and has most likely influenced the
field of family more than any other field
• First wave (circa 19-20th century) of feminist movement advocated
for women’s suffrage, culminating with the pass of the 19th
amendment in 1920 (right to vote)
• Second wave (circa 1960) of feminist movement advocated for
dismantling workplace inequality; publication of the popular text
“The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan
• Third wave (circa 1990) of feminist movement exposed accounts of
sexual harassment and utilized the internet to reach a large audience
regarding numerous issues
Structure of Family: Hippies
Movement
• According to a recent study regarding marriage and
family values, the hippie movement was described as a
separation from the traditional aspects of family
• The hippie movement (circa 1960’s) was structured
around the principles of harmony with nature, communal
living and artistic expression
• In addition, the hippie movement was associated with
the use of recreational drugs
Structure of Family: LGBT
Movement
• According to prominent sociologists, LGBT movement
cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions
of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the
nuclear family
• Same-sex civil unions were recognized under Vermont
law in 2000, and Massachusetts became the first state to
perform same-sex marriages in 2003
• In 2008, California’s Supreme Court rules that gays and
lesbians should be allowed to wed
Structure of Family: Social
Networking
In-person conversation with family members was once
viewed as the primary mode for social networking
According to a recent article, 20% of individuals admit
they only know what family members are doing by
checking online
The evolution of internet has generated numerous social
networking internet-based social networking platforms
that may challenge family structure
Structure of Family:
Pornography
• With the rise of the popularity of the Internet in recent years,
the accessibility of pornography has been a growing concern
• One particular concern is the potential risk for addictive
behaviors to occur as a result of the ease of viewing online
pornographic material and the impact on intimate
relationships
• An emerging body of research has shown associations
between pornography and certain behaviors and attitudes
• Moreover, online pornography use motivated by social needs
is perpetuated by deficient self-regulation and may lead to
negative life consequences in some individuals
Divorce Rates in the Islamic
Republic of Iran
In 2006, the divorce rate in the Islamic
Republic of Iran was 119 for every 1,000
marriages
In 2014, the divorce rate in the Islamic
Republic of Iran nearly doubled to 225
divorces for every 1,000 marriages
Divorce Rates in the Islamic
Republic of Iran
of Iran
In looking at the increasing divorce rate, an alarming
30% of divorces occurred within the first year of
marriage
It has been previously reported that unhealthy
relationships, intimacy problems, and moral
degeneration are the primary causes of divorce
Furthermore, infidelity and remarriage has been
reported as a cause for divorce in the Islamic
Republic of Iran
‫بحران هویت جنسی‬
‫پسران و مردان جوان 'در خطر •‬
‫بحران‬
‫هویت جنسی هستند’’ •‬
‫افراط در بازیهای کامپیوتری و‬
‫تماشای پورنوگرافی مردان جوان‬
‫را در معرض جدایی اجتماعی و‬
‫جنسی از واقعیت قرار داده است‪،‬‬
‫آنها به جای آنچه به طور طبیعی‬
‫یک مرد جوان باید انجام دهد‪ ،‬در‬
‫اتاقهای خود در تنهایی و در‬
‫دنیایی مجازی زندگی میکنند‪.‬‬
Future Recommendations
Our findings suggest an urgent need for
comprehensive multidimensional investigational
interventions to prevent divorce and infidelity
among this study population
Specifically, interventions should address the
increasing rate in divorce among young Iranian
couples, which is particularly alarming
Interventions, such as an innovative health skills
curriculum with mental health objectives, may be of
particular value
Questions…
Email:
mobazarg@cdrewu.edu
Tel. 1-323-357-3655
1731 E. 120th Street
Los Angeles CA 90089