Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Russians believe that men and women should be equally blamed for divorces. The main reasons behind the family breakdown are infidelity and lack of money.  

MOSCOW, July 4, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the following questions: what Russians think about the divorce; who is to blame; why people separate; whether the divorces are acceptable or not.

Over the recent decades the Russian opinion on divorce has not changed. As before, most of Russians tend to think that both men and women are to blame for the family separation (64%). Those who think so are mainly women (65%), those who are married or who cohabit (66%), and those who got married only once (66%). The remainder tend to blame men rather than women (12 and 8, respectively). Men are those who blame mainly women (12%); on the contrary, women tend to blame men (18%). Other 12% blame circumstances.

According to respondents, it is infidelity and poverty (21%) that makes people divorce (24%). Respondents also think that other reasons behind divorce are inability to compromise, quarrels (19%) and bad habits such as alcoholism and drug addiction (16%). Rarer respondents cite different characters and attitudes to life (8%), domestic problems (7%), and simmering feelings (5%). Some respondents point out jealousy, irresponsibility, lack of housing (3% per each).  Other reasons are less popular (1% of cases). Four percent of Russians polled believe that each divorce has its own reasons and circumstances.

Asked whether the divorce is acceptable or not, almost half of respondents say that it depends on each case (48%, in 1990– 36%). Those who share this stance are persons who did not enter into official marriage (52%). Every tenth believe that it is acceptable in any case and divorce does not make things worse (11%, in 1990 only 5%); those who think so are basically those who got married officially two or more times (16%). The same share of respondents has the opposite point of view stating that no way should one divorce, and the marriage should be preserved by any means (10%). Compared to 1990, less persons report that divorce is acceptable if the family is almost disintegrated (from 39 to 28%).

The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on June 29-30, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

In your opinion, which spouse should be blamed for divorce? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

1990

2007

2013

No one; circumstances

8

16

12

Men (husbands)

12

13

12

Women (wives)

5

7

8

Both equally

63

62

64

Hard to tell

12

3

4

In your opinion, which spouse should be blamed for divorce? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

 

Status

How many times have you entered into a formal marriage?

sex

 

Total respondents

Single

Marriage (including cohabitation)

One time

Two or more times

Never  

male

female

No one; circumstances

12

13

12

11

11

16

15

10

Men (husbands)

12

16

10

12

16

11

6

18

Women (wives)

8

8

8

8

10

7

12

4

Both equally

64

58

66

66

60

60

61

65

Hard to tell

4

5

4

4

3

6

6

3

What makes people divorce? (open-ended question, not more than three answers)

Infidelity

24

Poverty; lack of job; inability to feed the family

21

Inability to compromise, to give in; lack of understanding, egoism, quarrels

19

Alcohol abuse; drug addiction

16

Domestic problems

7

Different characters; different attitudes

8

Feelings cool down

5

Jealousy, distrust, suspicions

3

Lack of one`s own house

3

Irresponsibility, lack of attention to family values

3

Circumstances; everyone has its own reason

4

Battery, domestic violence

1

Early or unequal marriage

1

Relatives who interfere in a family life

1

Nothing makes people divorce; spouses themselves are to blame for that

1

Inability to have children

1

Different social status of spouses

1

Dissatisfaction with sexual relationship

1

Other

1

Hard to tell  

17

Which of the statements below do you agree with? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

1990

2007

2013

Marriage should be preserved anyway; couples should not divorce

13

12

10

Divorce is possible if the family is almost disintegrated

39

36

28

Divorce is possible in any case; it does not make things worse

5

9

11

It is different in each case

36

40

48

Hard to tell  

7

2

3

Which of the statements below do you agree with? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

 

Status

How many times have you entered into a formal marriage?

sex

 

Total respondents

Single

Marriage (including cohabitation)

One time

Two or more times

Never  

male

female

Marriage should be preserved anyway; couples should not divorce

10

8

11

11

7

8

11

9

Divorce is possible when the family is almost disintegrated

28

29

28

29

28

26

27

29

Divorce is possible in any case; it does not make things worse

11

11

11

10

16

11

11

11

it is different in each case

48

49

48

47

45

52

48

48

Hard to tell  

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com. as well as distributed by VCIOM.

The reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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