There is no way to predict at the beginning of your marriage whether you and your spouse will remain married or eventually split. While divorce can follow certain patterns, there is always a unique interplay of factors that causes a relationship to become unsustainable.
Research has attempted to identify risk factors that can increase the chances of divorce. In some cases, the risks are things that you might not expect, assuming that they would strengthen the relationship rather than break it down.
Significant wealth
Financial issues play a role in many divorces. You may assume that a lack of money would be the issue that leads to divorce, and in many cases, it is. However, according to research, being wealthy could also cause friction that eventually causes a marriage to break apart. CNBC describes three reasons that wealth can be a risk factor for divorce:
- There may be an unevenness between your income or credit score and your spouse’s that could be a source of contention.
- The professional demands to maintain high earnings could put a strain on your personal relationship.
- Though wealthy, you and your spouse may have trouble making ends meet due to living beyond your means or a lack of liquidity.
Large support system
Psychology Today analyzes a psychological study that showed that people who had a large network of emotionally supportive family and friends were more likely to divorce. This pattern held true even when the study controlled for other risk factors. The author of the study proposed two different theories to explain the findings. One is that maintaining relationships with others puts too much of a strain on your marital relationship. The other theory holds that, if you are unhappy in your marriage, you are more likely to divorce when you know you can rely on the emotional support of people other than your spouse.
Taken together, both of these studies seem to indicate that if you are unhappy in your marriage, you are more likely to divorce if you feel you have the resources to do so.