How ADHD Can Increase Divorce Risk

When you are in love and planning a wedding, divorce is probably the last thing on your mind. Typically, couples do not get married while expecting to get a divorce later on. However, there are several factors that you may not realize that contribute to higher divorce rates, according to psychologists.

First, parents who have a child under 8 years old who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are almost two times more likely to get a divorce than parents who do not have a child with ADHD. Even when a child is beyond eight years old, parents of ADHD children tend to get divorced sooner than those who do not have kids with this disorder.

Psychologists suspect that this is because parenting children with hyperactivity and/or attention problems can lead to more stress in a marriage. Parents tend to argue more and feel a loss of marital support when dealing with kids with ADHD.

Complicating Factors for Parents

Next, in this same study, researchers found that there are several other subfactors that can affect divorce rates for parents of children with ADHD. If the child also has oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD), these can also raise parents' stress levels in a marriage.

Lastly, psychologists noted that there are some issues with the parents that can up the risk of a divorce. If the parents have very different education levels, such as a father that has a master’s degree and a mother who only finished high school, the chances of getting a divorce are higher than parents with similar education levels. Additionally, if the father has antisocial behavior problems, such as run-ins with the law, these can corrupt a marriage as well.

While having a child with ADHD does not automatically mean that parents are going to get a divorce, couples who have children with this disorder should be aware that they may face more stress than those with non-ADHD children.

Contact Us

Sometimes, factors such as stress with children can arise in a marriage and may lead to divorce later on. If you or someone you know is considering a divorce, you should seek experienced legal counsel to help you with the proceedings. For more information regarding Texas divorce law, contact the Frisco divorce lawyers of Alexander & Associates by calling 972-420-6570 today.