In divorce-related news, a recently released report comparing the general marital satisfaction of married couples with children versus married couples without children is generating both conversation and controversy among academics throughout the U.S.

According to the report entitled "Baby Makes Three" -- the most recent installment in the ongoing "State of Our Unions: Marriage in America" series by the National Marriage Project -- married couples without children were generally found to have higher "marital satisfaction" than married couples with children.

However, the report also found that some married couples "can navigate the shoals of parenthood without succumbing to comparatively low levels of marital happiness or high levels of marital instability."

Simply put, the researchers found that some married couples with children are actually quite content and perhaps not more prone to divorce. They arrived at this conclusion by examining data from The Survey of Marital Generosity, the General Social Survey and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.

One of the more compelling aspects of the report was that National Marriage Project authors compiled a list of five qualities that happily married parents typically have in common.

For instance, mothers were found to be happier in their marriage when they had the following: a high level of sexual satisfaction/intimacy, commitment, generosity toward their husband, a positive outlook toward raising children, and a strong support network of family and friends.

Happily wed fathers were found to share the first four factors, with the fifth factor being "marital spirituality" as opposed to a strong social network.

However, the report is also drawing criticism from some academics who claim that it was not subjected to vigorous peer review, and that the National Marriage Project and its associated partners have an inherently biased pro-marriage agenda.

"Marriage can be beneficial, but that does not necessarily mean that taking unmarried people and persuading them to get married will bring them all those benefits," said Professor Philip Cohen of the University of North Carolina.

What are your thoughts on the report?

If you would like more information regarding dissolution of marriage or child custody/visitation, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced legal professional.

Stay tuned for updates on this story from our Phoenix divorce blog ...

This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Sources:

Time, "The five secrets of happily married parents" Dec. 12, 2011

National Marriage Project "When baby makes three" Dec. 2011