Divorce is not always predictable. Your spouse may engage in an extramarital affair that you had no idea was going on until the day that they filed for divorce. Sometimes, it happens out of the blue.
However, in a lot of cases, you can find factors that predict if divorce is more likely for a couple. To consider your own odds, think about the following factors:
If your parents got divorced
First and foremost, children of divorce are more likely to get divorced themselves. If your parents divorced when you were young, the odds are simply higher that you will eventually make the same decision. This does not mean it’s guaranteed to happen and the exact change in odds is often debated, but studies have found that they tend to increase for both genders.
If you got married at a young age
Studies have also found that getting married too young can make divorce more likely. For instance, one study pegged the ideal age to get married at 32. Both before and after that age, divorce odds increase. So waiting to get married can help, but it may be detrimental for those who wait too long.
If you have financial stress
One of the main things that causes divorce is just financial stress. This is perhaps why young marriages are more prone to divorce, as it’s harder for young people to support themselves at the very beginning of their careers. But any level of financial stress for a couple – at any point in their careers – can be enough to cause a divorce.
If you are getting divorced this year, make sure you know about all of your legal options.