Study: Parents Of Twins More Likely To Get Divorced

Perhaps you shouldn't be so surprised that Kate and Jon Gosselin got divorced despite having all those kids to care for. Research conducted by University of Birmingham professor Stephen McKay suggests that parents of twins or triplets are 17 percent more likely to divorce than parents who don't have multiple-birth deliveries, according to The Times Online.

Parents of twins or triplets also are more likely to end up financially broke, emotionally stressed, and out of work, according to the study. At the risk of sounding cynical, maybe the name of a good divorce attorney in Chicago is not such a bad gift for expectant parents of twins.

Mr. McKay's research, which tracked 18,500 families, also discovered that those couples with multiple-birth deliveries tend to start out more financially sound and are more likely to be married:

"We would expect quite a low divorce risk among families with twins, because they are older and better off, which are important protective factors against the risk of divorce."

But Mr. McKay's research shows that having twins often causes the type of financial strain that can lead to emotional stress and sometimes divorce.

More than 62 percent of parents with twins or triplets in the study said they were "significantly" worse off financially after their children's births, compared to 40 percent of single-birth parents. And nine months after birth, mothers of twins or triplets were 20 percent less likely to have returned to work.

The culprit for the latter statistic is the often-unaffordable cost of daycare for two children at once.

While most families today plan for just two children, researchers discovered that 55 percent of twins are born when there is at least one other child in the family. The inference is that families simply are not prepared for the additional child or children, which takes a toll on the relationship as well as the family's finances.

While this is just a statistic, it may be a reality for some parents. Sometimes, it is good to know when you need help. If you need help, or have questions about family life issues, consulting one of the many Chicago family law attorneys in the area may be useful.

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