Intergenerational Transmission of Divorce: The Swedish Trend

Michael Gahler, Stockholm University
Juho Härkönen, Stockholm University

We analyze cohort patterns in the intergenerational transmission of divorce and family dissolution in Sweden. It is well known that parental separation is associated with a higher risk of own divorce, but less is known whether these associations have changed or remained stable over time. There are strong theoretical reasons to expect changes in this pattern, but few empirical studies exist, partly due to lack of appropriate data. Furthermore, the studies that exist yield contradictory conclusions (McLanahan and Bumpass 1988; Wolfinger 1999; Li and Wu 2008). We use population register data from six cohorts (born 1950-75) of Swedish men and women to study cohort patterns in the intergenerational transmission of divorce and family dissolution during a time of rapid family and social change. Our preliminary findings show no trend over the cohorts.