prediction of divorce on the basis of personality traits, mental disorders and demographic features

this research work is aimed at identifying personality traits, mental disorders and demographic features predicting divorce among couples in tehran. the research method is casual-comparative and the sample was selected using the clustering sampling method. to select the sample, 3 judicial complexes were selected randomly from among the family judicial complexes in tehran, iran, and from among the divorce-prone couples referring to these centers, 60 people (30 couples) were selected randomly. from among the people living in district 3, tehran, 30 couples were also randomly selected to make the control group. then, the five-factor personality questionnaire (short form), the mental disorder symptom checklist (scl-90) and the demographic questionnaire were administered to both groups. the findings revealed a significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups in neuroticism, empiricism and conscientiousness factors of the five-factor test and in all the dimensions of the scl-90 test except psychoticism. the results of the double-value logistic regression analysis showed that the variables depression, paranoid, number of children, income, and neuroticism significantly predicted divorce in couples; that is, the higher the rate of depression, paranoid and neuroticism the higher the probability of divorce and the more children and income the lower the probability of divorce. these findings emphasize the important role of personality traits, mental disorders and demographic factors in divorce.