The effect of education on divorce risk in Estonia

Abstract

The impact of education on the risk of divorce has been demonstrated in numerous studies. At the same time, there is no consensus about the strength and the direction of this effect: do persons with a higher education have a higher or a lower risk of divorce? This study focuses on the direction and the strength of the effect of education on divorce in Estonia, using data from the longitudinal study "Paths of a Generation" (1983- 2005). The educational level of both spouses is considered. The results indicate that people with higher educational levels have lower divorce risks. The protective effect of education is stronger for men than for women.