Television Viewing and Divorce in Indonesia: Evidence from Macro Data

Abstract

The rise in divorce incidence seems to be the most apparent social phenomenon in Indonesia during the last decade. As the Ministry of Religious Affairs noted, the number of divorces has increased by 9% to 408,202 in 2018 compared to the previous year. One rationale that may explain this phenomenon comes from the role of television, which has the potential to influence the opinions of society through its programs. In developing countries, including Indonesia, television is still relevant as a medium to reach a large portion of society at a low cost. Hence, this study aims to determine the role of television viewing on divorce in Indonesia. Unlike previous studies, which use qualitative data collected with in-depth interviews at the individual level, we utilize quantitative analysis based on macro data at the provincial level from Statistics Indonesia in 2018. We perform a multiple regression model using the ordinary least squares method and find statistical evidence that divorce rates are positively associated with television viewing, particularly in rural areas. From this finding, the government should regulate media by limiting the frequency and duration of soap operas and celebrity news and by promoting television stations to provide diversified content on their channel.