What are the Most Common Reasons that Couples Get Divorced?
Years ago, divorce only occurred in situations where one spouse could prove fault, and the grounds for fault were very restrictive. These days, no-fault divorces have become the standard, which means neither spouse has to prove the other is responsible for the divorce.
For those considering divorce, it is common to wonder if the reason that they have for thinking about filing is significant enough to warrant the end of their marriage. Once you understand what research says about the cause of divorces, you can perhaps alleviate a little bit of the self-judgment you experience. A spouse doesn’t need to be abusive or a criminal to justify seeking a divorce. After all, an unhappy or unbalance marriage can impact your health and quality of life.
A lack of long-term commitment is often the biggest issue
When researchers questioned couples who had gone through a divorce, they found that roughly three-quarters stated that a lack of commitment from one spouse or the other played some kind of role in causing the end of their marriage. It’s important to know that in this particular study, many individuals cited multiple reasons for the end of their marriage.
However, not taking the commitment of marriage seriously enough was the top reason, while other studies have found growing apart to be the most common reason. The number two reason will surprise no one: It’s infidelity. Quite a few people choose to leave their marriage either because they caught their spouse cheating or because they strayed and fell in love with a new partner.
Other common reasons for divorce include financial issues, lack of support from the family, getting married too young, substance abuse, excessive marital conflict and even disparate personal values, like differing religious beliefs.
An unhappy marriage can take its toll on your personal life and even your physical health, which is why you shouldn’t judge yourself for wanting either your freedom or, at least, a fulfilling marital relationship.