The association between health-related behaviours and the risk of divorce in the USA

This study investigates the link between health-related variables and risks of divorce. The findings indicate that physical characteristics associated with poor health - namely, obesity and short stature - are not significantly related to risks of marital dissolution for either men or women. On the other hand, risk-taking behaviours - such as smoking and drug use - are strongly related to higher risks of divorce for both sexes. Overall, the results emphasize the need to accommodate health-related variables in the dominant economic and social psychological theories of marital dissolution.