People Who Meet Online Less Likely to Divorce

 Posted on July 13, 2013 in Divorce

Within the last few years, more and more people are beginning to meet online and start relationships. It seems to be the best way to go as well, according to research funded by the online dating website eHarmony on people who meet their spouses online versus those who don't and the happiness of their marriages. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to the study, the one-third of American marriages that begin as online relationships are happier and less likely to lead to divorce. The research included about 20,000 Americans married between 2005 and 2012. Just over one third of these couples met online. What the study found though, was that 8% of the couples who met offline were separated or divorced, while only 6% of the couples who met online were separated or divorced. These numbers are very close and hard to call and the study also stated that they narrowed even more when factors such as income rates, education and numbers of years married were controlled, according to John Cacioppo, lead author of the study and University of Chicago social psychology professor. The researchers seemed convinced of their findings and very supportive of marriages that begin online, but not everyone is as convinced. Professor of psychology at Northwestern University Eli Finkel told journalists in an email that the study is positive about online relationships, but does not believe that the topic has been researched thoroughly enough to be conclusive. He added that the difference of evidence between marriages beginning online compared to marriages that begin at college or in bars, etc. is not significant enough to clearly state that online marriages are better. There will surely be more research about this new online dating phenomenon, but for now, it seems to be true that online dating services do provide for a happier life than offline relationships, even if it is only slightly. If you are in the 8% of offline relationships or 6% of online relationships that unfortunately come to an end, contact a divorce attorney for assistance with your case. Stock, Carlson & Asso. LLC attorneys in Wheaton, Ill. can help you through your divorce case so you can move on and maybe find a happier relationship online sooner with a quick divorce.