Marriage as learned behavior: Can divorce be foretold?

It may sound like a conservative's marriage manifesto: Pick a partner with a similar background, don't shack up without an engagement ring and stick with even a lifeless marriage for your kids' sake.

But following that creed could avert divorce, which, statistics show, can be perilous to your health.

Researchers have persuasively linked certain demographic and socioeconomic factors — many of which you can't control — with higher odds of marital breakup. Your race, occupation, income, age at first wedding, the length of courtship and whether you have children from previous relationships all can preordain the success of your marriage even before the "I dos."

Factors that put you at a higher risk of divorce:

• Having divorced parents
• Marrying young
• Living together before engagement
• Being previously divorced or marrying a divorced partner
• Having a child before marriage (and, to a lesser extent, getting pregnant before the wedding)
• Being much older or younger than your spouse
• Marrying someone of a different race
• Following different religions or no religion
• Having low education levels

Source: Seattle Times research