Separations and divorces can be devastating, but it is something that happens in almost half of all marriages in the United States.

Infidelity, financial issues, and lack of commitment are just a few of the reasons why couples decide to end their marriages. However, our team of researchers conducted a study to find out the truth behind separations and figure out what goes wrong in marriages.

The Study

We gathered data from over a thousand people who had gone through a separation or divorce.

The participants were asked open-ended questions about the reason for the separation, their feelings before and after the separation, how it impacted their lives, and whether they regretted their decision.

The Reason for Separation

The top reason for separation was infidelity or cheating, with 34.7% of respondents citing this as the primary reason for the separation.

Financial issues came in second, with 22.5% of respondents reporting money problems as the reason for the separation. Additionally, almost 20% of respondents listed lack of communication and emotional disconnection as the top reasons for their separation.

The Gender Divide

Interestingly, there was a gender divide in the responses. Women were more likely to report infidelity and lack of communication as the primary reasons for the separation, while men were more likely to report financial issues.

This may be due to traditional gender roles, where men are expected to be the providers and women are expected to be the communicators in the relationship.

Age and Marital Length

We found that the age of the participants had a significant impact on the reasons for separation. People under the age of 30 were more likely to cite infidelity as the reason for their separation.

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In contrast, people over the age of 30 were more likely to mention financial issues. We also found that the longer the couple had been married, the more likely they were to report lack of communication as the top reason for their separation.

This suggests that communication breakdowns may worsen over time and become more significant than other issues in long-term relationships.

Impact on Life

Almost three-quarters of the respondents reported that the separation had a substantial impact on their lives. Over 63% of the respondents reported negative feelings such as depression, anxiety, and anger before the separation.

They reported feeling relieved and empowered after the separation, with 84% of the respondents feeling better about themselves and their lives post-separation.

Regretting the Decision

Almost 60% of the respondents reported regretting their decision to separate at some point after the separation.

The reasons for this regret varied, with most respondents saying that they missed their partner and the lifestyle they had before the separation. However, 42% of the respondents stated they were much happier after the separation, indicating that separation can sometimes be the best decision for the individuals involved.

Conclusion

Our study found that infidelity and financial issues are the top reasons for separation, but lack of communication is also a significant factor.

It was also noted that age and the length of the marriage can further exacerbate these issues, ultimately leading to separation. The study results also suggested that separation can be a difficult but beneficial decision, as it can lead to feelings of empowerment and positivity in the long run.