8 Reasons People Get Divorced

Over the years, there have been many studies on what causes divorce. Some studies focus on factors that make divorce more likely, as the age that someone gets married, and then other studies go right to the source and ask divorced people why their marriage has ended. When sharing your life with your partner is no longer a viable option, a family law practice in Orlando can help you understand the specifics of a divorce.

 Experts compared the results from some of the best studies and compiled a list of the most common causes of divorces. Of course, in most divorce cases, there is more than one reason that a couple has dissolved their marriage. For example, partners are more likely to cheat if they have difficulty communicating with each other or have money problems. In many cases, couples even disagree about what caused the divorce in the first place. Still, it's quite a learning experience to find out why people's marriages have ended, and if you're hoping to avoid a divorce, learning these things can help you recognize the signs of problems that show up in your relationship.

Failure to commit

Several studies asking couples why their marriage has ended found that the failure to commit is the most common reason for divorce. One study supported that the inability to commit was why most couples agree on their marriage ending. Failing to commit to a marriage can seem like a very difficult to prove and vague reason for a divorce, especially to the partner accused of failing to engage.

The signs given for a failure to commit to a marriage, like not working together towards financial goals, an unwillingness to discuss problems in the relationship, or one partner cheating on another, are closely related to many other reasons for divorce. Many people likely express a failure to commit as a reason for a divorce because it is seen as an underlying issue causing much more apparent problems in the relationship.

Growing apart and incompatibility

Many previously married individuals list the reason why they have divorced their partner as not being compatible or drifting apart. Some reasons that divorced individuals listed incompatibility as the reason for their divorce include:

• Religious differences
• Lacking shared values
• Sexual problems
• Marrying at a young age

Many married couples can deal with their differences and sometimes even enjoy having such differences in their marriage. Still, most successful marriages indeed rely on shared values or overlapping priorities and interests. Some signals of incompatibility in a marriage are related to other common reasons for divorce, like poor communication.

Poor communication

Nearly half of couples in studies about the reason for divorce listed poor communication as to why they dissolved their marriage. Poor communication can include issues like not talking to each other freely or fighting and arguing too much. Some signals of poor communication in a marriage include conflicts over responsibilities or money. It usually isn't challenging to recognize when you and your spouse are fighting all the time. But in many cases, even when fights aren’t severe or frequent, repeated arguments about the same thing or disagreements that are unable to be resolved between a couple can signal that you need help with communicating better together.

Cheating

Adultery was addressed in every reviewed study, though the frequency given for it being a reason for the divorce varied considerably. While some divorced people consider a partner cheating as the very last straw after many other marital problems, others may see the ending of the marriage coming from the issues that cause a partner to go outside of the union in the first place. At any rate, adultery is a cause for divorce in many marriages.

Financial disagreements

Another primary reason people list for divorcing their partner is complaints about how their ex-spouse handled their finances. In many cases arguing over money is referred to as financial incompatibility because disagreements on money often stem from differences in values and priorities around financial decisions. Experts offer these signs that you and your spouse are incompatible financially:

• A partner lies or keeps secrets about financial decisions or purchases.
• Taking steps that affect joint finances or making large purchases is not shared with the other spouse before it is done.
• You find it difficult to talk about finances calmly and regularly
• You cannot set joint financial goals, like saving to buy a house, budgeting, building a retirement nest egg, or having children.
• You can set financial goals together, but one partner keeps overlooking them.

It should not come as a surprise that research shows that lower-income couples are much more likely to cite incompatibility financially as a primary reason for divorce. When stress about covering all the bills is higher, there are more likely to be disagreements over money.

Substance abuse

Drinking and drug problems are significant reasons couples cite for divorce. Your spouse may have a substance abuse problem if they exhibit any of these signs:

• Trouble with memory and attention.
• Hygiene, sleep, or appetite changes.
• An unexplained need for large amounts of money.
• Secretive Behavior.
• Abandonment of hobbies or friends.
• Sudden mood changes.
• Neglecting responsibilities at home or work.
• Personality changes like paranoia.

Domestic violence

Domestic abuse is another commonly listed reason for divorce and can include physical abuse, verbal abuse, or emotional abuse. Men and women understand this abuse very differently. It is more likely for women to cite domestic violence as a reason for divorce than for men. This makes sense as most women are much more likely than men to suffer domestic violence, and domestic violence victims are more likely than their abusers to list the behavior as the cause of a divorce.

Disagreements on responsibilities within the family

Many individuals list reasons for divorce that include disagreements on how to raise their children, clashes on childcare responsibilities, and disputes on other household and family obligations. It is important to note that studies show more women than men cite these types of disagreements as causes for their divorce.

Every marriage is different, and most couples face at least one of the problems on the list during their relationship. Though some of these issues are more harmful than others, like substance abuse and domestic assault, many don't have to lead to divorce as long as both partners are willing to work together to save their relationship. Unfortunately, lack of willingness to work through issues is likely why lack of commitment is at the top of the list in many studies.

When there is no longer hope for your marriage, it is vital to seek the advice of a family law practice in Orlando to find out what steps you should take next. Contact us today for more information.