It may come as no surprise to many that money remains among the top five reasons why couples get divorced. However, it is not always a lack of money that brings marital disharmony. Some who counsel divorcing spouses recognize that differences in attitudes toward money and financial expectations can create stress in a marriage. A sudden change in income or breadwinning roles can complicate a relationship, and some marriages cannot endure these changes.
While money may be among the top reasons for divorce, it is certainly not the only one. Of course, every marriage is different, and every couple may cope with certain stresses in different ways. Nevertheless, the following are examples of the most common factors that can break a marriage:
- Infidelity
- Lack of communication, especially when a couple is struggling
- Selfish choices, such as an inability to delay gratification for the good of the marriage
- Addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling
- Different attitudes about children, including if and when to have them and decisions about raising them
Ideally, a couple contemplating marriage will discover these potential deal breakers before they decide to tie the knot. For example, a couple who does not discuss having children before marriage may be unhappily surprised to learn they do not agree on the issue. Some married couples find that counseling helps them to learn skills to better deal with stress and conflict. Counseling may also teach a couple how to communicate more effectively. Unfortunately, not every couple finds success through counseling, and divorce becomes the most appropriate method for finding peace and purpose in their lives.
