What is The Most Common Reason for Divorce
You know that things are not going well for you and your spouse. Your partner seemed harsh, aloof, and annoyed the last time you talked to each other.
As always, you expect them to come around, let off steam and become your normal self over time. Instead, one day, you come home to find clothes missing from their cupboards and a piece of paper on the dinner table—a divorce notice.
What is the reason for divorce in marriage?
Infidelity, lack of communication, financial troubles, and infrequent sex and intimacy sessions are some of the common reasons for divorce.
Using data from 4,000 divorced adults, the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture identified the top reasons why people split up in the United States to include infidelity by either party; spouse unresponsive to needs; inconsistency; immaturity of the spouse; Emotional abuse and financial problems.
Why do couples get divorced?
There are certain traits in one partner or circumstances- causes the divorce, which may compel the partners to seek divorce.
You can no longer cope with your partner, and divorce is probably the best option.
When couples feel that they have given their relationship everything, they may eventually come to the conclusion that it is time to end their marriage.
Do you think this scenario can come in your life?
It is not uncommon that couples start fighting and until one day they part ways for good. Don’t neglect your relationship issues. You never know, your relationship may be headed down rocky roads too!
What percentage of marriages end in divorce?
The picture of what percentage of marriages end in divorce may seem an underestimate, but the reality is that approximately 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce.
Not only this, according to statistics, usually couples get divorced in the first seven years of marriage. So, what year of marriage is divorce most common?
It is said that marital satisfaction increases as the couple approaches their 10th anniversary.
If you think you know why people get divorced or how many marriages end in divorce, you might not be wrong, but there are some reasons to get divorced that you may never have guessed.
What are the top 10 reasons for divorce?
Here is a list of commonly observed grounds for divorce with reasons for divorce statistics. If you identify any of these in your relationship, you must get conscious about where your relationship is heading.
This will help you understand what factors are associated with a higher risk for divorce and take the necessary actions and avert further damage.
Let’s look at the 10 most common reasons for divorce and understand whether or not your marriage is salvageable.
1. Infidelity or an extramarital affair
When one person goes outside of the relationship to get their needs met, whether it is physical or sexual, this can doom a relationship. It is very difficult to get trust back once a partner feels betrayed.
Extra-marital affairs are responsible for the 20-40% breakdown of most marriages and end in divorce. This is one of the most common causes of divorce. The reasons why people cheat aren’t as cut and dry as our anger may lead us to believe.
Anger and resentment are common underlying reasons for cheating, along with differences in sexual appetite and lack of emotional intimacy.
Infidelity often begins as a seemingly innocent friendship, says cheating expert Ruth Houston. “It starts as an emotional affair which later becomes a physical affair.”
Infidelity is one of the primary reasons for divorce. It is also one of the legal divorce reasons, besides living apart for more than a year and subjecting your partner to cruelty (mental or physical).
2. Trouble with finances
Money makes people funny, or so the saying goes, and it’s true.
If a couple is not on the same page about how the finances are going to be handled, it can lead to terrible problems.
Why is divorce so common due to financial incompatibility? According to divorce statistics, a “final straw” reason for divorce is a lack of compatibility in the financial arena and causes almost 41% of divorce.
Everything from different spending habits and financial goals to one spouse making considerably more money than the other, causing a power struggle can strain a marriage to the breaking point. Also, differences in how much money each partner brings into the marriage can also lead to power plays between a couple.
“Money really touches everything. It impacts people’s lives,” said Emmet Burns, brand marketing director for SunTrust. Clearly, money and stress do seem to go hand in hand for many couples.
Financial troubles can be categorized as one of the biggest causes of divorce, following infidelity, the number one reason for divorce.
3. Lack of communication
Communication is crucial in marriage and not being able to communicate effectively quickly leads to resentment and frustration for both, impacting all aspects of a marriage.
On the other hand, good communication is the foundation of a strong marriage. When two people are sharing a life together, they must be able to talk about what they need and be able to understand and try to meet the needs of their partner.
Yelling at your spouse, not talking enough throughout the day, making nasty comments to express yourself are all unhealthy methods of communication that need to be ditched in a marriage.
Besides, when couples stop talking to each other, they can feel isolated and lonely and stop caring about one another altogether. This can lead to the breakdown of the relationship.
Poor communication is one of the biggest reasons for 65% of divorces.
Practicing mindful communication to change age-old marriage mistakes can be hard, but it’s well worth the effort to improve and save your relationship.
4. Constant arguing
From bickering about chores to arguing about the kids; incessant arguing kills many relationships.
Couples who seem to keep having the same argument over again often do so because they feel they’re not being heard or appreciated.
Many find it hard to see the other person’s point of view, which leads to a lot of arguments without ever coming to a resolution. This can ultimately be a cause of divorce for 57.7% of couples.
5. Weight gain
It may seem awfully superficial or unfair, but weight gain is one of the main reasons for divorce.
It may seem odd, but weight gain is also one of the leading causes of divorce. In some cases, a significant amount of weight gain causes the other spouse to become less physically attracted while for others, weight gain takes a toll on their self-esteem, which trickles into issues with intimacy and can even become a cause of divorce.
6. Unrealistic expectations
It’s easy to go into a marriage with lofty expectations, expecting your spouse and the marriage to live up to your image of what they should be.
These expectations can put a lot of strain on the other person, leaving you feeling let down and setting your spouse up for failure. Wrong expectation setting can become one of the reasons for divorce.
7. Lack of intimacy
Not feeling connected to your partner can quickly ruin a marriage because it leaves couples feeling as though they’re living with a stranger or more like roommates than spouses.
This can be from a lack of physical or emotional intimacy and isn’t always about sex. If you are constantly giving your spouse the cold shoulder, know that it can become the ground for divorce over time.
Often couples struggle with different sex drives and different sexual appetites. This can really plague a couple as they try to get their needs met. In addition, at different stages of life, our sexual needs can change, which can lead to feelings of confusion and rejection.
Ignoring your partner’s sexual needs is being called the number one cause of divorce in recent times.
Making your relationship intimate and special is the responsibility of both partners. Practice little acts of kindness, appreciation, and enjoy physical intimacy as much as possible to sweeten your relationship.
8. Lack of equality
Lack of equality comes closely behind the number one cause of divorce, lack of intimacy, in recent times.
When one partner feels that they take on more responsibility in the marriage, it can alter their view of the other person and lead to resentment.
Resentment often snowballs to become one of the reasons for divorce. It is a leading cause of divorce.
Every couple must negotiate through their own and unique set of challenges and find their own way of living together as two equals who enjoy a respectful, harmonious, and joyful relationship.
9. Not being prepared for marriage
A surprising number of 75.0% of couples of all ages have blamed not being prepared for married life for the demise of their relationship. Divorce rates are highest among couples in their 20s. Lack of preparation is one of the most common reasons for divorce.
Almost half the divorces occur in the first 10 years of marriage, especially between the fourth and eighth anniversary.
10. Physical and emotional abuse
Not feeling connected to your partner can quickly ruin a marriage because it leaves couples feeling as though they’re living with a stranger or more like roommates than spouses.
This can be from a lack of physical or emotional intimacy and isn’t always about sex. If you are constantly giving your spouse the cold shoulder, know that it can become the ground for divorce over time.
Often couples struggle with different sex drives and different sexual appetites. This can really plague a couple as they try to get their needs met. In addition, at different stages of life, our sexual needs can change, which can lead to feelings of confusion and rejection.
Ignoring your partner’s sexual needs is being called the number one cause of divorce in recent times.
Making your relationship intimate and special is the responsibility of both partners. Practice little acts of kindness, appreciation, and enjoy physical intimacy as much as possible to sweeten your relationship.
Are there “good” reasons to get a divorce?
You might question yourself, “Should I divorce my spouse or stick in the marital bond?
Well, the answer completely depends on your experience in marriage. Every relationship is unique and it’s on the couple to decide how they want to proceed in the relationship.
Besides, if you feel the relationship is serving you no purpose and it is only giving you suffering, it is a good decision to walk away from marriage.
If you are still unsure, take this quiz and find out the answer:
