It is said that everything has a season. Sociologists from the University of Washington did some research that proved the saying applies to divorce as well.
Brian Serafini, a doctoral candidate and Julie Brines, an associate professor in sociology are the first to come up with quantitative evidence that proves that divorce is seasonal. They did research on divorces filed from 2001 to 2015 in Washington. Their findings showed that divorce filing increased mainly in March and August. These months are normally after the winter and the summer holidays.
Summer and winter holidays are normally very sacred times for family. It is during these holidays that family members come together, share good times and try to mend their differences. Most couples with therefore not file a divorce during this time because it might ruin the good times. Most of them therefore choose to stick it out hoping that things will get better.
According to Brines, holidays also signify a new beginning and a fresh start for many people. Couples therefore try to put the old strife behind them and give it another try during the holidays. He also says that these holidays impact a lot of stress in couples especially when the holidays do not live up to the high expectations they had. Most couples therefore decide to file divorces after they’ve completed their vacation and kids have resumed school in the month of August. What about the increase in divorces filed in March?
Brines explains that the filings normally increase in March mainly because couples need some time to gather finances to get divorce attorneys and some need time to gain some courage to file the divorce. This makes the divorce filings to take a while and then they spike in the month of March.
Therefore, according to this research the answer to the question, “Is divorce seasonal?” is Yes.
