How the Pandemic Impacted Divorce Rates

 Posted on November 07, 2022 in Divorce

While many people were wondering how the COVID-19 pandemic had affected divorce rates, World Population Review found that about 50 percent of married couples divorce in the United States as of 2022, giving the country the sixth-highest divorce rate in the world while secondary marriages had a higher likelihood of ending in divorce with a 60 percent rate. National Center for Health Statistics data showed 38 percent more marriages despite a 12 percent decline nationally in the first year of the pandemic. 

A report a few years ago found that while divorce was becoming less common among younger adults, the so-called gray divorce was on the rise with divorce rates doubling since the 1990s for American adults 50 years of age and older. Among people 65 years of age and older, the divorce rate has nearly tripled since 1990, now reaching six people divorcing per 1,000 married persons.

Common Causes of Divorce

The pandemic certainly placed greater stress on couples and the amounts of time they had to spend with one another. Spouses quickly learned a number of things that can impact having happy marriages, and a number of people took to getting a divorce.

According to the couples’ website Marriage.com, the most common causes of divorce include:

1. Infidelity or Extramarital Affairs — Research over the last 20 years shows that between 20 and 25 percent of married men cheat while between 10 and 15 percent of married women cheat.
2. Money — 48 percent of married people or individuals living with partners said they argued with partners over money, and data showed that 41 percent of divorcing Gen Xers and 29 percent of Baby Boomers said they ended their marriage due to disagreements about money.
3. Lack of Communication — Ongoing communication difficulties were the top reason couples were divorcing in the United States, with 67.5 percent of marriages ending because of communication problems.
4. Constant Arguments — Too much conflict and arguing accounted for 57.7 percent of divorces.
5. Weight Issues — The unfortunate truth remains that when one spouse gains a significant amount of weight, it can severely impact their marital relations, especially relating to intimacy.
6. Unrealistic Expectations — Many people enter marriages filled with hope but can quickly discover that life is not meeting those expectations. Many spouses will file for divorce when a marriage is not living up to the hope a person had.
7. Lack of Intimacy — While these kinds of problems are again common among couples dealing with weight issues, there can be a wide variety of factors impacting one spouse’s sex drive. Failure to spend intimate time with a spouse can often prompt a divorce filing.
8. Unequal Shares — If one spouse feels that they are taking on too much responsibility in a marriage, it can easily create a sense of resentment that makes divorce more likely. It can be challenging for couples to restore balance in certain situations.
9. Lack of Preparation — Nearly half of divorces occur within the first 10 years of a marriage, and couples in their 20s have the highest divorce rates. Many spouses do not properly prepare to begin married lives, and the failure to adjust leaves their partners wanting out.
10. Physical or Emotional Abuse — Only 23.5 percent of cases involved domestic violence, although these kinds of issues can always make divorce cases more complicated. This is especially true for cases involving child custody.

Contact a DuPage County Divorce Lawyer

When you are thinking that you could be filing for divorce in Illinois, make sure that you are working with the Wheaton divorce attorneys at Hensley Sendek Law. Our firm handles both contested and uncontested divorce cases, and we have experience helping people with complicated issues such as high-value marital estates, spousal support claims, and other property division issues.

Our attorney focuses exclusively on family law matters. You can call 630-358-9029 or contact us online to take advantage of a free consultation. 

Sources: 

https://wgno.com/news/health/coronavirus/how-has-the-pandemic-affected-divorce-rates/

https://www.bgsu.edu/ncfmr/resources/data/family-profiles/westrick-payne-manning-marriage-divorce-covid-pandemic-fp-22-12.html

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/03/09/led-by-baby-boomers-divorce-rates-climb-for-americas-50-population/

https://www.marriage.com/advice/divorce/10-most-common-reasons-for-divorce/

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-common-behavior-is-the-no-1-predictor-of-whether-youll-get-divorced-2018-01-10