Family Breakdowns Reach All-Time High in UAE Since Records Began

The rate of family disintegration is now at an all-time high, as research shows that nearly half of adolescents do not reside with both biological parents by the age of 14.

The data reveals that as many as 45 percent of teenagers do not reside with both their parents—despite official statistics indicating that only around 24 percent of households are led by a single parent.

Official estimates for family breakdown have been ‘dramatically understated’ as they do not factor in parents who have new partners and those with young children who split later, researchers claim.

A study conducted by the Marriage Foundation think tank revealed that the rate of family disintegration has surged five times higher since the 1970s and now stands at 'alarming levels'. The report cautions that because the tendency towards family dissolution tends to pass down generations, these statistics are expected to deteriorate further in coming years.

The report further stated: "A certain degree of family disintegration is unavoidable. However, 45 percent? It ought to be considered a nationwide disgrace." According to official statistics from the 1970s, only 8 percent of households were led by single parents; however, an examination conducted by the think tank using information from the Millennium Cohort Study—a survey involving roughly 19,000 individuals born between 2000 and 2002—revealed that this percentage has surged to 45 percent.

According to the research, the main factor behind family disintegration isn’t divorce—which has reached its lowest point since 1970—but instead the separation of cohabiting partners who have children together.

Eighty-five percent of the families that stay together until their children become teenagers consist of married parents, whereas only thirty percent of separated families fall into this category.

According to the study, 'Already two-thirds of family disintegrations stem from parents who were never married,' and it cautioned that 'this ratio is set to rise.'

It was suggested that this increasing statistic has been 'concealed' due to declining divorce rates and the rate of single-parent households staying constant since 2000.

This indicated that family disintegration was the 'top indicator' for adolescent mental health issues, subpar academic performance, and reduced self-worth — with these concerns anticipated to intensify as the rate goes up.

Harry Benson, who authored the study, stated: "Family disintegration has reached alarming levels and is expected to deteriorate further. However, not a single politician or policymaker is addressing this issue. So why is there such an overwhelming silence?"

Mr. Benson contended that 'high-ranking political figures, most of whom are married, do not wish to appear as though they are "promoting" what constitutes family structure.'

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