Intimacy in young adult males’ relationships as a function of divorced and non-divorced family of origin structure

This study investigates the long-term effect that parental divorce may have on the levels of intimacy in the relationships of young men with their girlfriends, their willingness to make up and readiness to break up relationships, and their expectancies regarding marriage. The sample contained 40 male soldiers, serving duty in the Israeli army. Twenty were from intact families, and twenty were from divorced families. The results show no differences between the groups on any of the measured variables. These results are discussed in the context of the reasons given for the intergenerational transmission of divorce.