Are You’re Marriage Destined to Fail? 6 Most Common Reasons for Divorce

You married the love of your life, but now your happily ever after is feeling more like a prison sentence. Is there any hope for your relationship?

Statistics show that couples stand a 20% chance of divorcing within the first five years of marriage and 33% for those married for 10 years. Further research reveals that on average, people will spend two years thinking about getting a divorce before finally going through with it.

Keeping a marriage together isn't always easy. What do you do when you keep trying to make it work, but you just can't come together as a couple? These are 6 divorce advice signs that you are probably headed for a split.


1. You Don’t Spend Quality Time Together

A healthy marriage is all about consistency. Couples need to put one another first and make spending time together as friends and lovers a priority.

Those looking for divorce advice to prevent a separation would go for a weekly date night. Research proves that couples who have a regular date night, doing fun things together and making an effort to romance each other, are less likely to get divorced. They also showed improved communication skills and a more satisfying sex life.

2. Your Sex Life Doesn't Exist

One Brazilian study monitoring the most common factors in marital unhappiness found that money, jealousy, children, and most importantly sex came out on top.

The lack of physical intimacy in a marriage can lead to many unfortunate events. Couples who aren't intimate together are less tolerant of one another and have more trouble communicating. They also draw away emotionally, which can open up the door to an extramarital affair.

Why does sex mean so much to a relationship? Well, aside from the fact that it is fun and pleasurable, it's also something special that you share with your spouse.

Studies show that physical affection (cuddling, sex, holding hands, kissing) is strongly related to partner satisfaction. Healthy sex life has also been shown to make couples verbally affectionate, being more likely to say "I love you" than couples whose sex life has taken a back seat.

There is also an essential aspect of emotional intimacy in a marriage. Research proves that sexual satisfaction predicted heightened emotional intimacy in couples, which can make partners feel safer and more supported in the relationship.

3. There is Abuse in the Marriage

One sure-fire sign that you are beyond divorce advice to save your marriage is if there is physical, sexual, and verbal abuse that have no signs of stopping. Violence in the union can escalate into hazardous situations, as statistics show that every day 3 women are murdered by their husbands in the United States.

Abuse in a marriage can be devastating and can leave lasting physical and emotional scars. If you are in a relationship that is physically dangerous or mentally toxic, you should go to that situation quickly and safely.

4. There are Consistent Affairs/Infidelity

Couples need trust in their relationship to thrive. It allows partners to feel comfortable with one another, to communicate openly, and share secrets together.

Infidelity is commonly listed as one of the biggest reasons why couples separate. Not only does infidelity show a complete lack of respect for the marriage, but it also ruins trust. Once trust is broken, it can take many years for a partner to get over the betrayal.

5. Differing Morals and Values

They say that opposites attract. One spouse gets drawn to someone with entirely differing views, hobbies, and interest than they do and at the time it seems exciting and new. It could even be seen as a fun challenge to be with someone who is so different.

But, over time, this challenging behaviour seems more like a chore to put up with.

Research suggests that couples who share a religion are happier than couples who don't.

This makes sense, as it is only natural to want to share your morals and beliefs with your spouse. Many people feel this same way about their politics and financial and social values.

For example, when the two of you met, you wanted children, but your spouse didn't. Starting a family was a non-negotiable for you, but you married your spouse anyway, believing that one day they would change their mind. But they don't.

Now you are stuck in a marriage without the ability to expand your family, and you feel sad and disappointed all the time. This sadness turns to depression, and you begin to resent your spouse.

This is yet another example of how differing morals and values can play a role in the demise of your marriage.

6. Inability to Communicate Together

Divorce advice research on why couples get divorced found that drifting apart and not communicating with a spouse took top billing at 55% and 53% respectively.

Like any married couple, they will tell you that communication is the key to a successful relationship.

Partners must be able to talk to one another about anything. After all, communication is how you get to know one another better. It's how you grow trust, work out problems, and compromise.

When couples can't express their feelings and desires to one another, it has a ripple effect that touches every other aspect of your relationship from your sex life to your romantic friendship.

If you or your spouse are engaging in an extramarital affair, aren't spending quality time together, or don't know how to communicate, the best divorce advice you can follow is to seek couples counselling. However, if your marriage has turned dangerous or there is physical or substance abuse, it may be time to part ways.

Author Bio:

Rachael Pace is a relationship expert with years of experience in training and helping couples. She has helped countless individuals and organisations around the world, offering practical and efficient solutions for healthy and successful relationships. She is a featured writer for Marriage.com, a reliable resource to support healthy happy marriages.