Exploring the Increased Odds of Divorce Following Miscarriage or Stillbirth

Abstract

We build on recent studies on the consequences of miscarriage and stillbirth for women to assess the (a) odds of divorce among women who experienced a loss compared to those who did not; and (b) fertility-specific characteristics that increase odds of divorce. Utilizing a nationally representative sample of 3,461 women who have ever been pregnant and married, we find that women who experienced miscarriage or stillbirth have greater odds of divorce than women who did not experience a loss, and we highlight the importance of characteristics associated with the pregnancy and loss experiences: gestation length, whether the pregnancy had been planned, and experiencing multiple losses.

Keywords:

• attachment
• commitment
• divorce
• fertility
• loss
• miscarriage
• stillbirth