Top Reasons for Divorce in America

Tap to Read ➤ Abhijit Naik

If asked what is the top reason for divorce among Americans, most people will be prompt to say infidelity. That, however, is not the right answer. It may come as a surprise for you, but most divorces in the United States stem from communication breakdown and not infidelity.

The introduction of the concept of no-fault divorce on the grounds of 'irreconcilable differences' came as a catalyst for divorce rates in the United States of America in 1970s. In 1969, California became the first to implement it.

By 1985, all the fifty states had provisions for no-fault divorce as a component of their judicial system. That led to a sudden surge in the number of divorces in United States.

Around two decades ago, most of the divorce cases were attributed to the Biblical reasons for divorce, i.e., abandonment and adultery. More recently, however, things have undergone a drastic change, and the difficult to define concept of 'irreconcilable differences' seems to have taken the top spot.

Top 10 Reasons for Divorce in the US

Most reasons start with minor differences and eventually snowball into a communication breakdown leading to the process of separation.

If relationship experts are to be believed, these reasons are influenced by factors such as age, religion, education, financial condition, and the most important of them all, the norms set by the society. Lying ahead are the top 10 reasons why marriages fail in the United States as of today.

1. Communication Breakdown

Communication is the key when it comes to any relationship; marriage is no exception. When communication problems start surfacing, it's a hint that your relationship is going downhill.

While talking does resolve issues, ego clashes keep this option at bay. That is why 'Communication breakdown' tops the list of reasons of divorce. Statistics on divorce suggest that 67.5 percent of divorce cases have lack of communication in marriage as the reason.

2. Infidelity

One of the most serious issues when it comes to disruption of marriages, infidelity has played a significant role in a large number of divorce cases in the US.

While infidelity as a reason has been there since a long time, the fact that it has combined with various other reasons has made it all the more complex today. If experts are to be believed, the trust issues in the aftermath of infidelity make the reconciliation part difficult for most couples.

3. Financial Problems

All married couples face economic strain at some point in life. While some couples have enough mutual understanding to make it through; others give in to the situation. Studies show that such arguments hint at the possibility of divorce.

4. Emotional Abuse

Verbal insults, humiliation, taunts, and intimidation; these factors combine to form severe emotional abuse, which is responsible for a significant number of divorce cases in the United States.

And despite what others may have you believe, emotional abuse is as serious issue as domestic violence.

5. Physical Abuse

At times, it begins with emotional abuse, but doesn't just stop at that. Instead, it manifests into physical abuse. Around 95% of the victims of domestic violence in the US are women. Abusive relationships like these, are the most vulnerable to divorce.

6. Physical Incompatibility

Another common, but least-spoken about reasons for divorce is physical incompatibility between the couple.

This can be attributed to many things, right from loss of interest in partner to a hectic lifestyle. Irrespective of the reason; the end result is nothing but a disaster in form of a divorce.

7. Loss of Interest

When we say loss of interest, most people wrongly associate it with loss of interest in physical intimacy. The fact, however, is that it is more often related to the emotional aspect than physical aspect of the relationship.

8. Shift in Priorities

With time priorities change. All of sudden, your professional life becomes more important and marriage takes a back seat. In such a scenario, the lack of understanding between partners can sound the death knell for the marriage.

9. Failed Expectations

Almost everybody gets into a relationship with some expectations. When these expectations are fulfilled, it makes them happy. But when they are not, then? This is yet another common reason, not just in the US, but the world over.

10. Addiction

When a person is addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, etc., it is not just harmful for him, but is also harmful for his marriage. That explains why many people who seek divorce in the United States cite addiction as the reason.

Numerous physical and psychological factors come into play in what is referred to as a 'bad' marriage. No matter what the reason is, it's obvious that the implications of divorce are felt on various attributes of the lives of the couple.

Besides emotional turmoil associated with it, the couple is also subjected to financial issues. Divorce may not be the best option in life, but there are times when it is the only option people have.