Most people walking down the aisle in New Hampshire aren’t thinking that divorce may be a possibility at some point. Statistically, however, it’s not uncommon for marriages to come to an unexpected end. The National Center for Biotechnology Information recently participated in a study conducted to help identify common reasons for divorce. For the study, 52 people who had divorced after initially participating in a communication and conflict resolution course were questioned to pinpoint factors that contributed to their marital problems.
Surprisingly, a significant amount of divorced individuals questioned felt that they didn’t receive enough premarital education even though they all had participated in a post-marital program. Religious differences were significant for just over 13 percent of the respondents questioned about their divorce factors. A book on this topic found that couples in same-faith marriages tend to be happier. Nearly 20 percent of former spouses who were questioned felt a lack of support from family was a major factor. In some instances, illnesses can take a toll on a marriage; more than 18 percent of divorced respondents cited health problems as a factor.
Nearly a quarter of survey participants cited some type of domestic violence as a major reason for their split. In more than 30 percent of the divorces evaluated, both partners referenced issues with substance abuse, and approximately 12 percent of respondents considered substance abuse to be the final straw that led to the end of the marriage. While financial problems, conflict and arguing, and getting married too young were higher-ranking factors, the top ones were infidelity and a lack of commitment.
When divorce discussions involve an attorney, couples are sometimes advised to consider counseling before moving forward with the process of ending a marriage. If this isn’t a possibility, a lawyer may help a spouse looking to legally split from a partner work out issues such as asset division, custody of children, spousal support and plans for the marital home. Even if a prenuptial agreement was signed, a lawyer may recommend making appropriate adjustments, especially if marital assets are significant.