Daughters and Divorce

Are couples with daughters more likely to divorce than couples with sons? Evidence of this phenomenon from the United States has not been replicated in other developed countries, and even within the U.S. there is disagreement regarding the existence and causes of such an association. Using Dutch registry and U.S. survey data, we show that daughters are associated with higher divorce risks, but only when they are 13-18 years old. The age-specific nature of the effect rules out explanations overarching son preferences and selection. Our findings instead support causal mechanisms involving relationship dynamics in families with teenage children.