Every couple has disagreements and issues that come up over the course of the marriage, sometimes more than once. Some things, such as money woes, infidelity or disagreements over how to raise the children, have been shown to increase your divorce risk. However, a new study out of Harvard University has found that when you got married may play a part in determining what is more likely to lead to divorce.
The study followed more than 6,000 couples from 1968 to 2013. According to the findings, published in the American Sociological Review, couples who were married prior to 1975 were more likely to have marital problems related to housework and the wives’ contributions to the upkeep of the home. Those married after 1975, however, were more likely to experience problems when the husband was not employed.
The researchers posit that the difference in arguments depending on the timing of the marriage may be reflective of gender roles of the time. Before 1975, most women stayed home to tend to the housekeeping and children. However, in later decades, two-income families were much more common, but men were still expected to be the primary breadwinner for the family. The study shows that failure to meet expectations can increase your risk of divorce.
While there are certainly things that may increase your risk of divorce, the truth is that it is impossible to completely divorce-proof your marriage. If the time comes when you choose to end the relationship, understanding the divorce process and your rights under the Pennsylvania code is of the utmost importance. If you have children, both fathers and mothers have rights, regardless of whether they’re employed outside the home.
Source: Good Housekeeping, “This Is the Biggest Risk of Divorce, According to Harvard Researchers,” Lisa Marie Basile, July 29, 2016