July 20, 2011: Italy’s Soaring Divorce Rate

According to the National Statistics Agency Istat, Italy's divorce rate is increasing.
By April Lopez

In 2009, 54,456 couples filed for divorce and another 85,945 separated legally, increasing by 0.2 percent and 2.1 percent respectively from 2008.

Although the divorce rate is on the rise, the figures did show a slowing of the trend since divorce rates increased 7.3 percent and separations 3.4 percent from 2007 to 2008.

Istat reported that both divorce and separation are in a state of constant increase.

158 couple separated and 80 divorced for every 1,000 marriages registered in 1995. There were 181 divorces and 297 separations per 1,000 marriages in 2009.

Research institute Eures also revealed in its poll that divorce happens every four minutes in Italy, a country once known as a bastion of marriage.

While some reasons for divorce are dispute over money, marrying too early or meeting new partners, a shocking three out of 10 marriages fail because of the close attachment of Italian men to their mothers.

Psychologist Dr. Annamaria Cassanese says, sons who cling to apron strings or the concept of mammoni is famous in Italy. Men in their 30s and 40s live with their parents and it is not uncommon. Boys in Italy are pampered well into adulthood making Italian men who remain close to their mothers emotionally immature.

Until the 1970s, divorce was illegal in Italy.

Find local divorce information, click here: http://www.divorcemag.com/findprofessional.php

Tuesday, May 15
at 8 pm to 8:30 EST
Out With the Tragedy: Turning Divorce into a meaningful experience
with Allison Pescosolido and Andra Brosh, founders of Divorce Detox
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