[Photo/VCG]

Statistics show divorce among post-1980s generation couples account for nearly 40 percent of the total number adjudicated by a court in East China's Fujian Province, China Youth Daily reported.

As China's only-child generation, the post-1980s is fueling a rising divorce rate, according to a study by the People's Court in Siming District of Xiamen City, the provincial capital.

Kuang Jieyu, a judge responsible for family proceedings, said about 60 percent of divorce cases were initiated by women, countering the traditional view of male dominance in a family.

She said woman of the post-1980s generation generally have a higher level of education, better income and enhanced family status than their predecessors, making them less reliant on men economically or psychologically.

They are becoming more open-minded about marriage and have high expectations about marriage, so they are more ready to choose divorce after losing confidence in the relationship, Kuang added.

The judge said that analysis shows children and property are no longer the main concerns for couples who plan to divorce. About three-quarters of divorced couples have children, according to the study.

She also said interference from parents also led to disputes among couples. Because both husband and wife are the only child in a family, their parents are often overprotective even after they get married. Once the couple has disputes, the parents often take sides and only worsen conflicts to the point of breakup.

Over 60 percent of divorces were caused by men caught being unfaithful, the study showed.