US kids of divorce earn less, face more teen pregnancy and jail: study
Children of divorce before age 5 earn 13% less by age 27, according to a new study.
Early childhood divorce is also linked to higher chances of teen pregnancy and incarceration.
Researchers say income loss, neighborhood changes, and reduced parental access explain much of the impact.
LOS ANGELES - Divorce in early childhood can shape a person's future in profound ways, a new study suggests.
Children whose parents split before age 5 face significantly reduced earnings as adults—and an increased risk of teen pregnancy, incarceration, and even premature death. The research, released this month, highlights how a family breakup often triggers long-lasting economic and social ripple effects.
The study, conducted by economists from UC Merced, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the University of Maryland, draws from a large data set linking federal tax records, census data, and Social Security information for children born between 1988 and 1993. Its findings offer one of the most detailed views yet of how early-life divorce shapes adult outcomes in America.
By the numbers
The study found that children whose parents divorced before they turned 5 had, on average, 13% lower income by age 27 compared to peers whose parents stayed together. If a divorce occurred after age 18, researchers saw little to no long-term financial impact.
For those who experienced parental divorce before age 15:
Teen pregnancy rates increased, but the effect faded by age 20.
Incarceration rates rose, with the impact disappearing after age 20.
Marriage likelihood by age 25 was unaffected.
The study found no meaningful differences in outcomes by race or ethnicity.
The backstory
The researchers identified three major factors contributing to the impact of divorce:
Household income loss – Divorce typically cuts household income in half as families split and attempt to rebuild separately.
Worse neighborhoods – Post-divorce families often relocate to lower-income areas with fewer opportunities.
Reduced parental access – Children are often farther from one parent or see them less due to increased work hours and logistical challenges.
These factors explained 25% to 60% of the negative effects observed in children's lives, the study said.
What they're saying
"These changes in family life reveal that, rather than an isolated legal shock, divorce represents a bundle of treatments — including income loss, neighborhood changes, and family restructuring — each of which might affect children's outcomes," the study's authors wrote.
Sociologist Philip Cohen, who was not involved in the research, noted that the study can't capture emotional impacts. Still, he emphasized that parents often weigh serious trade-offs.
"I believe parents are aware divorce may have harmful consequences for their children," Cohen told the Associated Press. "They make difficult judgments about what's in their own best interest, as well as the interest of their children."
One man who wasn't part of the study, Brandon Hellan of St. Louis, said his parents' divorce when he was in his early 20s made him wary of commitment for years. "I treated relationships like they were rentals," he said.
Why you should care
Nearly one-third of American children experience their parents' divorce before reaching adulthood. While many go on to thrive—like Barack Obama and Vice President JD Vance—the study underscores how divorce often triggers reduced stability and opportunity at critical developmental stages.
The Source
This article is based on a working paper released in May 2025 by economists from the University of California, Merced; the U.S. Census Bureau; and the University of Maryland. The study analyzed national tax, census, and Social Security data for children born between 1988 and 1993 to assess the long-term effects of parental divorce. Commentary was drawn from the study's authors, as well as sociologist Philip Cohen and anecdotal insight from individuals with personal experience.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNN
8 minutes ago
- CNN
Too much moose meat and antlers caused a plane crash in Alaska that killed congresswoman's husband, the NTSB reports
Too much moose meat and antlers strapped to a wing caused a deadly small plane crash in Alaska, a nearly two-year long investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board determined in a report released Tuesday. The small Piper PA-18 plane had taken a group of hunters to a remote wilderness area near St. Mary's, Alaska on September 12, 2023, where they killed a moose, the report said. The first flight to ferry the meat to a larger airport was successful, but on a second trip the plane crashed just after takeoff. The hunters provided the pilot, who was the only person onboard the plane, with first aid, but he died a short time later. CNN previously reported the pilot killed was Eugene 'Buzzy' Peltola Jr., the husband of Mary Peltola, who represented Alaska in the US House from 2022 to 2025. He also served as the regional director of the Alaska Bureau of Indian Affairs for several years before retiring in 2022. Investigators determined the plane was loaded with 520 pounds of cargo – which was 117 pounds more than the plane could handle. Besides moose meat, the aircraft also had a set of antlers strapped to the wing. While it is a allowed to hang antlers on aircraft wings in Alaska, the NTSB found the required formal Federal Aviation Administration approval for the practice had not been granted for this plane. The NTSB's report concluded that the cause of the crash was the excess weight and the 'unapproved external load' of the antlers, which 'degraded takeoff performance and flight characteristics' leading to a loss of control. The plane itself was more than 70 years old, but so many pieces had been replaced 'almost none of the original airplane existed,' the NTSB report said. The day before the crash Rep. Peltola attended a September 11 commemoration in Anchorage with President Joe Biden and flew with him to Washington, DC on Air Force One. 'Buzzy was a devoted public servant,' Biden said at the time of the crash. 'He is being remembered as a friend to all. But we know he was, first and always, the adored and devoted husband and father to a family now in pain.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Veterans Connect Event Brings Free Essential Services for Veterans All in One Place
Swords to Plowshares invites veterans across the Bay Area to access a variety of resources aimed at lowering barriers to stable housing, employment, healthcare, legal aid, and more. San Francisco, CA, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, hundreds of veterans are expected to visit the Veterans War Memorial Building in San Francisco for Veterans Connect: a one-stop event offering Bay Area veterans access to a variety of free and essential resources. Organized by Swords to Plowshares and sponsored by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the resource fair will bring together over 30 local service providers who are committed to supporting veterans facing homelessness, poverty, unemployment, and disabling health conditions. 'We aim to create a Bay Area where no veteran is left behind,' says Tramecia Garner, executive director of Swords to Plowshares. 'For 50 years, Swords has continually stepped up to address the unmet needs of generations of veterans. Thanks to the many partners showing up today to inform and support veterans, Veterans Connect allows us to go beyond our everyday services and offer a unique opportunity for veterans to experience the wide range of community-driven resources available to them.' Veterans Connect aims to reach veterans who may struggle with navigating social services. According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Counts, 587 veteran households experienced homelessness in San Francisco (7% of the total unhoused population), and 661 veteran households experienced homelessness in Alameda County (9% of the total unhoused population). A huge majority of these veterans experienced unsheltered homelessness – 81% in San Francisco, and 74% in Alameda County. 'New this year, we introduced our Community Engagement Grants to support local events organized by Got Your 6 Network partners and that bring veterans and military families together to foster connection and impact,' said Deirdre Armstrong, director of partner engagement at the Bob Woodruff Foundation. 'We're proud to support partners like Swords to Plowshares, who help connect veterans to local resources and who share our mission to ensure veterans, service members and their families have stable, successful futures.' Resources provided are free of charge and include onsite enrollment in housing services, job trainings, legal assistance, and healthcare; appointments with VA Mobile Medical Unit; haircuts and dental screenings; hygiene items and clothing; an e-bike give-away; counseling and mental health resources, including connection to service animals; and more. For the full list of participating providers, visit: Veterans Connect Wednesday, July 23, 2025 10:00am to 2:00pm PST Veterans War Memorial Building 401 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 About Swords to Plowshares Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-rooted nonprofit that provides wraparound support for veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each year, Swords to Plowshares supports 3,000 veterans as they navigate the challenges of post-military life so that they can achieve health, housing, wellness, and stability. This nationally recognized veterans service organization also advocates for the rights of veterans through community education and partnerships with local, state, and federal changemakers. Learn more about the work of Swords to Plowshares and discover how you can help by visiting CONTACT: Katie Ettl Swords to Plowshares 530-218-2147 in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Dozens of Peacocks and Peahens Disappear From Remote California Hotel
There were always some guests at the Ryde Hotel just as important as the paying customers: the resident peacocks and peahens. Until, that is, most of them disappeared, quite possibly stolen. There had been roughly 40 peafowl running around the vicinity of the Ryde in Walnut Grove, Calif., a small town in the Sacramento River Delta. A hardcore group that stayed close to the hotel numbered about 15. All but four have disappeared. 'A guest over the weekend said he had seen two guys putting a peacock in a crate and driving away,' said Rafe Goorwitch, an event coordinator and the unofficial peacock wrangler at the hotel. 'That's when we made the discovery we were down so many.' Hotel ownership had brought in a mated pair of Indian blue peafowl 15 years ago. Many generations later, their progeny had the run of the place and became a signature of the hotel. 'The public has embraced them,' Mr. Goorwitch said. 'We hang peacock pictures around the hotel.' Two of the birds were named: the second senior male was Pancho, and 'the senior chief peacock,' as Mr. Goorwitch put it, was Alibaba, called Baba for short. 'He was an atypical peafowl,' Mr. Goorwitch explained. 'Peacocks are known to be aloof; he would come right up to you. He came into the dining room and ballroom, hung out in the rafters. He was not skittish like most peafowl. He just had this attitude. He was just charming.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.