Socio-demographic factors and divorce among young married couples-A socio-cultural perspective

Received: 12-05-2021 Revised: 26-05-2021 Accepted: 28-05-2021 Published: 30-05-2021 Abstract: Divorce leads to many conflicts as women being single at an early age. This study aimed to determine the rate and socio-demographic associations of Divorce in Sri Lanka. A larger range of remarriages have conjointly additional to the increased numbers of marriages per annum. The data were gathered through an in-depth interview method and Questionnaire from 60 divorced young couples, to ignore the data duplication, data were collected from one of the divorced young couples who live in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. The research findings demonstrated that to reverse this trend, elders of the couple recommend and instruct them about the realities of life. Compromises and sacrifices are important aspects that the couple ought to have a secure married life.


Introduction
The Sri Lankan marriage pattern is unique in some respects from the rest of South Asia. In the last half-century, the marriage age has increased drastically and is the highest in the region. There has been a shift from parentarranged marriages to self-selected marriages (Caldwell, 2005, Dommaraju, Premchand;Jones, Gavin, 2011). Historically, divorce has been low in Sri Lanka, but there has been an upward trend in divorce and legal separations (Siddhisena, 2003;Dommaraju, Premchand;Jones, Gavin, 2011). Overall, the incidence of divorce continues to be low, as in the rest of South Asia.
The mechanism of social support focuses on opportunities for receiving financial, instrumental, and emotional support. It is based on the idea that individuals invest in their social relationships so that they can mobilize their networks in case of need (Bourdieu, 1986;Buyukkececi, Zafer;Leopold, Thomas, 2020;ZacharyVan Winkle, Thomas Leopold, 2021). The legal act by which a valid marriage is properly dissolved in the divorce. Divorce should be declared as a very dismaying social issue. particularly in Asian countries wedding is measured as a long commitment, Therefore, the rising divorce rate in Sri Lanka makes a question about cultural values, however, this uncommon flip of events materialized. A recent survey allotted by the health authorities has unconcealed that fifty-four percent of marriages in Sri Lanka finish in divorce. It appears matters are dangerous in a sociocultural perspective.
In Sri Lanka, there are three valid reasons behind and file a case under family Law to obtain the divorce by the Law such as Malicious Desertion, Adultery, Impotency (Hettige, 2011). matrimonial reliefs: Legal Separation, Action for Nullity of Marriage also applicable in this context. Age of marriage is at the time of marriage was 27.3 (±6.1, range 18-73) years for males and 24.1 (±5.7, range 16-64) years for females. The divorce statistics indicate between 1946 and 2012 from 4.8 to 19.7 divorces per 1,000 married couples. "The divorce lets the husband and wife to permanently dissolve the marital union and frees both parties to remarry." (Pothem, 1996). Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic country and four main religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity in practice actively. Apart from that, there is also a caste system that exists among Sinhalese and Tamils to some extent. In modern Sri Lanka, caste plays a minor role, however, its influence becomes more superficial at the time of a typical Sri Lankan marriage. However, in divorces, a significant cause for young partners to separate themselves is the absence of responsibility, disloyalty, and struggle or contending. The most well-known "issue that is finally too much to bear" reasons were treachery, abusive behavior at home, and alcohol use. Blames others than accepting fault by themselves, which leads to divorce easily.
There are many reasons behind engaging with divorces such as Economical problems, Dishonest relationships of Couples, Violence, Not receiving the expected dowry, Childlessness, Excessive alcoholism, Drug addiction, Sexual issues and disorders, Communication issues, Malicious desertion, Disrespect for each other, Irresponsibility about each other, but this study attempts to investigate how socio-demographic factors and divorce among young married couples A-sociocultural perspective context, special reference to Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka. Divorce has not been stable throughout the entire divorce transition. This shows that a historical perspective is necessary to better understand the connections between the long-term structural development during the twentieth century and the transition to current patterns of family stability (Glenn Sandström, 2011).
It is a lack of literature in Sri Lanka to study socio-demographic factors and divorce among young married couples Thus, a clear empirical gap concerning this. Research gap becomes a discrepancy to know how sociodemographic factors and divorce among young married couples -in socio-cultural perspective. There is a need to fulfill the gap.

Methods
The type of research is descriptive and variables are measured with quantitative and qualitative analysis. Primary data were collected through in-depth interview and case studies with closed statements measured with Likert's scale (1-5 as strongly disagree, reasonably disagree, Neutral, reasonably agree, and strongly agree) based on Batticaloa district, using the Convenient Sampling Technique, 60 samples were identified (See Table 1).
All respondents are working people and belong to different category of Job, Age, Race, Religion, Ethnicity, And Educational Level.
This study is specifically concentrating Socio-Demographic Factors and Divorce Among Young Married Couples -A Socio-Cultural Perspective, accordingly conceptual developed to investigate.

Results and Discussion
Following This study examines only 3 demographic factors and divorce among young married couples, such as Age, Education Level and Nature of the Occupation. Table 2 shows the realistic data before couples applied for divorce (Michael, Robert, 1978;Rosemary L. Hopcroft, 2021;Sanchez-Ruiz, Paul et al., 2018).

Age and Divorce
In the Community Age of a person influences on young married couples divorce in Batticaloa District Study according to the research findings. Figure 2, elaborates the significant changes that occur between men and women divorces. Age between 18-24, 30% percentage of Men obtained the divorces when women 11.67%, reasons for this has revealed by the current study: men face the problem Economically to control the family, Lack of compatibility, Getting married at an early age, getting married for the wrong reasons. When it comes to the age limit Age of 24-30, women are higher by 6.67% than men intention for divorce. Age of 30-36, women intention higher 20% to obtain the divorce while only 8.33% of Men. reasons for women's intention for divorces are Infidelity, Lack of equality and loss of identity, Lack of freedom. Deliberate aging which restores stability by eliminating the incentive for both partners to seek a new relationship (Adrian Masters, 2008).
The maturity level of a person determines by Age. However, when men in their younger age 18-24 they have high interest in obtaining divorce than women since women highly dependent on spouse in the age of 18-24 in the research area.
Progressively, in the age between 24 to 36 when age increases women's intention of obtaining divorce also increases. in this age women feel independent in the society as western culture, according to the Study exposes that Social Media and Mass media have a remarkable contribution to this social issue. However, for instance, acquiring common property increases the cost of separation; having children can increase the value to remaining in a current marriage; moving to the suburbs might reduce matching rates for either partner (Gautier et al., 2005;Adrian Masters 2008).

Education and Divorce
According to the research data, Figure 3 explains that, up to Advance Level and Ordinary Level studied couples divorce rate is higher than the other Educational qualifications young couples, hence young men having more intension to be separated when compared to the women since men and women were under their parents' guardianship and care, entire needs and wants to accomplish through their parents, once after their marriage life started they supposed to face the life journey as a decision-maker for their own life. Sudden changes in the life path do not allow one to remain bound with the marriage relationship for long. Further, Significant changes occur in the women's Education level and divorce rate. Increasing young women's Educational qualifications increases the intention for divorce moreover men Education qualification impact on divorce rate slightly. Better educated mothers may be better able to provide a safe and stable environment for their children after divorce and Better educated father could either aggravate or reduce the effects of parental divorce (Mandemakers, Jornt J.;Kalmijn, Matthijs 2014).
Old ages, women were fully dependent on men economically and socially since technology and another modern culture was not adopted and they stick to their cultural values, but nowadays, even though women play the role of a housewife, they could reach the external world easily through social media where they could obtain all available information readily. In this era, women and men have been gaining equal knowledge about social life. Modern culture and feminism theories have brought equality in every aspect of life, such as Economic, Political, Cultural, and social life. Social Media and other online platforms open a new way to compare themself with other married couples, it will lead to unnecessary problems to the families, Women expect more liberty than being control by others. These facts are creating complications in family life.
As per the survey data discloses, that when a woman is Educationally qualified, they imagine that there is no need of having any other complication in personal life, thus they ready to take a decision of divorce for small family complications, having the hope of their Education that will bring better future.

Profession and Divorce
Profession-related stressors and Family-to-business identity alignment impact divorce.
This study exposes that Professional qualification and divorce have a close relationship with each other. This study has divided the professions into 3 categories, such as Lower-level profession as Operational & Technical, Middle-Level Profession as Professionals, and supervisors and managers at Higher Levels.
In operational, Technical staffs divorce rate is higher 45%, while Professionals only 31.67% rate, supervisors and Managers are 23.33% of divorce rate. Moreover, research reveals that the Operational and Technical men workers divorce rate is higher 30% than women 15% but Professionals and Super visioners and Managers -The women divorce rate is higher than men.
When the Occupation level increases women divorce rate also increases. significant changes identified in the divorce rate.
In the professional context, when women's professional qualification increases than men's, chances of getting a dramatic divorce also increases, reason behind this is the attitudes of women also change. According to the survey data, it is purely depending on the behavioral aspect of individuals.
When women's profession brings better income and wealth, they become independent economically, they strongly agreed to have freedom, have right to live independently. Herewith study reveals the when women economically strong chances of getting a divorce are high compared with men. whereas the sentimental aspect of social life becomes questionable. Wealth is predominant than other factors such as Love, Relationship, Feeling, Emotions, Care, Social well-being, Culture, Religion, etc that money cannot buy. However, it is essential to strengthening that relationship by providing individual or group guidance to grandparents and promoting joint activities for grandparents and grandchildren (Sorek, Yoa 2020).

Conclusion
Divorce is not only a personal issue but also a Socio-Cultural issue, consequences of the divorce are not preferable by any human beings, it affects Physically and mentally the spouse, children, relatives, social order, Culture, and much more. There are various reasons for divorce however, this study examined the relationship between demographic factors that influence divorce. Socio-Demographic Factors such as Age, Educational Qualification, and Profession have a close relationship with divorce among young married couples.
It is a collective responsibility to reduce divorce. The recommendation for service providers is to acknowledge the significant potential role of grandparents in improving their grandchildren's Quality of Life and to strengthen that relationship by providing individual or group guidance to grandparents and promoting joint activities for grandparents and grandchildren.
The purpose of this study has been to bring back the cultural importance of Marriage and reduce the amount of Divorce in the community. Building family life depends on the compromises and sacrifices with the partner with whom the person engaged. Greater responsibility of grandparents, and parents to educate the cultural values such as Sacrifices and compromises to their children at the childhood itself. Future research can examine the relations among these constructs. The author hopes that the multiple lines of future research that these findings outline will encourage additional efforts to explore more, theoretically and practically on connecting factors for divorce.