Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

The incidence of divorce is rising in Jamaica. From 1996 to 2005, the courts granted a total of 14,895 divorces, the national demographic data show. The overall rise in divorce during this period was 30 per cent. The greater portion of the marriages lasted from a few months to 14 years.

Most couples who got divorced were married either between 18 and 29. The data show that for most, it was their first marriage. However, a significant number of them, mostly men, had previously been married.

While the data show that more divorces are being granted, fewer people are getting married. From 1995-2004, the number of couples tying the knot peaked just before the millennium and then made a sharp decline by nearly 9,000 marriages in 2004.

Interpreting the trends set out by the demographic data, marriage therapist and associate director of the Counselling and Psychological Services Centre at Northern Caribbean University, Joan Latty, notes that the reasons for marital break-ups are often complex and multifaceted.

Domestic violence

They are often traumatic and emotionally draining on families, particularly children, she explained, and might just be frightening people away from marriage, as reflected in the declining registered marriages.

Among the leading causes of divorce, Latty, says are issues of incompatibility, a lack of or a breakdown of communication in the relationship and domestic violence.

Many of these issues, she explained, are rooted in how each partner grew up.

"These individuals are coming from different types of families, and I believe that this features a lot when you look at the personalities of the individuals coming out of these families. Then when they come together there is a carrying over of these personalities and behaviour conflicts," says the marriage therapist.

There are four types of families from which people come:

The balanced traditional family with a mother and father where rules are enforced and family members driven to success.

The frightened family where rules are limited, disagreements are never resolved and family members try to control each other.

The individualistic family where again there is control, but for selfish reasons and discipline is often harsh and strong.

The absent family where love and emotion is lacking.

"We are going to end up with a mess on our hands because each person is going to carry the family of origin into this new family, and we are going to end up having a problem," comments Latty. She says often, there is an unwillingness to compromise or forgive in the relationship and this complicates the problems.

Marriage breakers

28 per cent married men cheat.

18 per cent married women cheat.

20 per cent male and female partners romantically kiss someone else.

15 per cent of men engage in online sex.

7 per cent of women engage in online sex.

Source: MSNBC.com/iVillage survey

February 2007