Are Some People at Higher Risk of Divorce Than Others?
No one enters a marriage with the expectation that it will end. Sadly, not every marriage results in the long and lasting partnership the couple intended to have. From drifting apart to having different visions of the future, there are various reasons why couples choose to file for divorce.
While many of the reasons for ending a marriage are often unpreventable and unpredictable, studies show an interesting correlation between certain factors that may impact a person’s risk of divorce.
Factors That Can Increase Your Risk of Divorce
We’ve all heard the breakup stories: from arguing about finances to infidelity to lack of chemistry, there are countless reasons why couples choose to end their relationship.
Is it possible that divorce is predetermined for some people? While it’s impossible to know for sure, experts have assembled a list of specific factors that may increase your odds of divorce. Keep reading to learn 5 factors that could play a role in a failed marriage.
Age
You may already know that getting married in your teens or early 20s can put you at a higher risk of divorce than couples who wait. Of course, possible reasons for this phenomenon are hardly a mystery. Here are some common reasons why those in young marriages may struggle:
- Young couples’ beliefs, values, and behavior are still evolving. While couples may think they know what they need and want in a long-term partner, the truth is that they may lack sufficient life experience to be certain. As older Americans can attest, our late teens and 20s are seasons of exploration, discovery, and growth. After all, it's highly unlikely for someone to be the same person they were in high school at age 30.
- Young couples are less likely to be financially independent. Many young people who get married are still in high school or college. Others recently graduated and are “on their own” for the first time. Young adulthood is a transitionary period in which many twenty-something-year-olds are still unfamiliar with financial and social independence. Establishing a life of financial independence can result in unexpected changes and differing views, which can ultimately lead to conflict in marriage as couples are forced to solve new problems and overcome new challenges in adulthood.
Family History
Research supports that a person with divorced parents is more likely to get divorced themselves. This may stem partly from the fact that, as children, we tend to imitate and learn from our parents’ behavior. However, evidence suggests a biological link as well.
For example, a parent with certain personality traits—such as neuroticism, impulsivity, or other tendencies that can be harmful to their relationships—can pass along those traits to their child, in which case the child's future marriage may be impacted similarly.
Religious Affiliation
Studies suggest that religious couples are more likely to stay married than couples who aren't united by religious affiliation. Regardless of their beliefs, any religious affiliation can provide a common ground on which spouses can unite and support each other.
Religious practices can offer couples a shared belief system, shared values, and an overall life structure that benefits the marriage as a whole (such as attending a religious service once a week or staying involved in a like-minded community).
Multiple Marriages
Research supports that the risk of divorce increases with subsequent marriages. Statistics indicate that for someone’s second and third marriage, the divorce risk rises to 67% and 73%, respectively.
While there is no single answer to explain this phenomenon, various theories circulate these statistics. Some hypothesize that people don't allow themselves sufficient time to recover from a previous marriage before entering the next one; others speculate that divorcees enter the next marriage for the wrong reasons (such as loneliness or social status).
While the cause remains a mystery, there is an evident correlation between multiple marriages and a heightened risk of divorce.
We’re Here to Make Your Family Our Top Priority
Our compassionate team at Rubenfeld Law Firm understands how stressful and isolating a divorce can be. For many people, the prospect of starting a new life post-divorce can be daunting. That’s why we’re here to put your fears to rest and reduce the unknowns in your future.
When you partner with us, you can count on our support from start to finish. Our award-winning divorce attorney has a hard-earned reputation for delivering personalized legal representation to each and every client. Our team takes pride in executing customized legal strategies tailored to your specific needs. With more than 30 years of family law experience, you can trust us to have your back in life’s most difficult seasons.
Filing for divorce in Long Island? You don’t have to fight alone. Call (631) 777-7200 or contact us online to request a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney.