Marital status distribution of the U.K. military: Does it differ from the general population?

Keeling, Mary; Wessely, Simon; Fear, Nicola T.

Abstract

The U.K. media suggest that U.K. military personnel have high divorce rates; to date, these claims are not substantiated. Marital status distribution of the general population and military were compared using data from the Office for National Statistics’ marital projections and a military cohort study. Overall, military personnel were more likely to be married and less likely to be divorced than were the general population. Women in the military and married military personnel younger than 30 years of age are more likely to report divorce. Military welfare services might target these groups with programs assisting marital relationships.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 28, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 10, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 18, 2018
• Journal: Military Behavioral Health
• Print ISSN: 2163-5781
• Electronic ISSN: 2163-5803
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 26-34
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2016.1213210
• Keywords: marital status, military personnel, divorce, marriage, general population, visible difference
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/909038
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2016.1213210
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Military Behavioral Health on 10th August 2016, available online: http://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2016.1213210
• Contract Date: Dec 18, 2018