Scheidung als soziales Risiko : Analysen zu den institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen und den geschlechterspezifischen Folgen von Ehetrennungen in der Schweiz

Abstract

Separations and divorces have become much more common in the last 50 years. Almost half of the marriages or cohabiting relationships break up over time. To date, knowledge about the situation of divorced people immediately after divorce and over time has been limited in Switzerland. A study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation therefore examined the consequences of divorce. The project provides a basis for planning measures to improve the situation of divorced people. The study focuses on the problems and risk constellations of people after a divorce. How have the social, economic and institutional conditions of divorce changed? What are the financial and health consequences of divorce? How often are social benefits received? Are there gender-specific differences in the effects? In order to answer these questions, comprehensive analyses were carried out based on administrative and survey data and interviews were conducted with experts from the fields of social security, family law and civil society. Divorces often lead to difficult financial situations. On average, divorced women have 30 percent less disposable income immediately after a divorce than before the divorce. Their consumption options are therefore considerably restricted. After the separation, children usually live with their mothers, who, as single parents, often live in particularly precarious income situations. For men, the loss of income is significantly lower. However, the subjective assessment of men's income situation after separation is just as poor as that of divorced women. After three to five years, divorcees are able to compensate for some of this loss of income. For women with caring responsibilities, however, this takes considerably longer. The income situation of divorced people depends largely on whether they receive or have to pay alimony. Almost half of divorced women receive maintenance payments in the first few years after the divorce, which make a significant contribution to the household income; this is particularly important if children need to be looked after. Divorce law in Switzerland has changed fundamentally since the 1990s. After a divorce, women have to support themselves much more often than earlier. This is because the courts now only award post-marital maintenance payments in exceptional cases and usually only for a limited period of time. The aim is for both former spouses to be able to support themselves again as quickly as possible (""clean break principle""). This means that women who had little or no employment before the divorce must find work quickly in order to maintain their standard of living. However, this is often not easy, especially if they have to look after children or do not have good access to the labor market. Only if their ex-husband has a substantial income, they are protected from poverty and welfare payments through maintenance payments. The change in legal practice also has an impact on the situation of men after a divorce. Men with a low income have to pay less post-marital maintenance than before and are therefore relieved of this burden. However, they can still find themselves in economic hardship if they are unable to pay their debts or are not entitled to social welfare. The social welfare authorities do not take maintenance payments into account as expenses when calculating the minimum subsistence level. This can lead to men who have to pay maintenance having to live below the minimum subsistence level.

The often precarious income situation of divorced people means that they are much more likely to rely on social benefits than other population groups. Divorced women are three times more likely to receive social benefits compared to married women and seven times more likely to receive supplementary benefits at retirement age. One in ten women receive social welfare benefits in the year following their divorce. The study shows that the division of roles in marriage influences the risk of depending on social welfare benefits after a divorce. Women who participated equally in working life during their marriage are better able to protect themselves financially. Women who worked little or not at all during the marriage find it more difficult to secure their livelihood independently. Traditional role models are still widespread among many couples.

Divorced people are exposed to severe psychosocial stress and have poorer health. Compared to married people, they suffer more frequently from chronic illnesses, experience negative emotions such as anxiety and depression more often and feel lonelier and more dissatisfied. At the time of separation, the stress caused by the challenges of the new life situation is particularly pronounced. The health situation is often already impaired before the separation. The increase in negative feelings is more pronounced among fathers during the separation process than among mothers, which can be linked to the poorer relationships with their children. The results of the study point to a clear need for action to prevent or mitigate the negative consequences of divorce. On the one hand, preventative measures are needed. This includes early information about the consequences of role sharing in couple relationships and the associated risks in the event of separation. Agreements on the division of responsibilities and financial circumstances in the event of separation, for example in marriage contracts, can also have a preventative effect and reduce conflicts in separation situations. Measures that make it possible to combine gainful employment and childcare also have a preventative effect. This includes the sufficient expansion of childcare services outside the family, which are also accessible to those on low incomes, as well as working conditions that meet the needs of families.

More psychosocial and financial support services would be important during the separation phase. Mediation services during the separation phase can help to find amicable and fair solutions and reduce conflicts. Measures such as debt rescheduling and further education programs and living grants should also be developed for people of advanced age to help them return to work or expand their employment after separation. In order to avoid poverty after separation, financial support is needed in the event of shortfalls, for example the conversion of alimony advance payments into a benefit with needs-based transitional financing of the shortfall or supplementary benefits for families. This would reduce the relevant inequalities and provide targeted relief for women and men.