Final answer:
Marriages where both partners are under 18 when they marry are at the greatest risk of divorce, due to factors such as immaturity, financial stress, and early marital challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
In responding to the question of which situation poses the greatest risk of a marriage ending in divorce, the student should consider various factors that have been identified by research as significant contributors to divorce rates. Based on the information provided, several key points emerge:
- Young age at the time of marriage, particularly under 18, has been associated with higher divorce rates.
- Financial stress and lack of assets can significantly increase the likelihood of divorce.
- The first few years of marriage are often the most challenging and are a common period for divorce to occur.
Therefore, the situation in which both partners are under 18 when they marry is at the greatest risk of ending in divorce due to the combination of less maturity, potential financial instability, and the high stress of early years in the marital relationship.