Study finds U.S. children of early-divorced parents earn less and face more risks as adults.

A recent study by economists finds that U.S. children whose parents divorce before age 5 experience reduced earnings as adults and increased chances of teen pregnancy, incarceration, and death. The study links these outcomes to a household's income halving post-divorce and families moving to lower-income neighborhoods, with these factors accounting for 25% to 60% of the impact on children's future. The U.S. divorce rate has decreased from over 10% in 2008 to about 7% in 2022.