In the United States, the average marriage lasts for about 8.2 years, and the national divorce rate is 41%. According to statistics, Fatherly, and Verywell Mind, the first 2 years of a marriage are the most crucial – and the early days, months, and years of your marriage can help indicate how long you might stay together. Studies suggest that most marriages that fail will do so within the first 2 years. Another difficult period comes in years 5 to 8, infamously known as the “seven-year itch.”
Why the First 2 Years of Marriage Are So Important
After their wedding, many couples feel slightly depressed in the same way that many people feel down after the holidays. This feeling is known as the “honeymoon blues,” and it is an important time for couples to support one another and settle into their lives together.
Instead of pretending everything is wonderful and avoiding heated topics, couples should watch for red flags and discuss concerns like money, chores, in-laws, sex, conflict, expectations, and free time. If one or both of you are struggling to adjust to being married, it is worth having a conversation and seeking outside support to help you build a stronger foundation for your marriage.
Although settling into married life can be difficult, the first 2 years of your marriage can also be a wonderful time for intimacy and discovery. As long as you put effort into your union and find ways to keep the romance alive, you will likely be stronger than ever as you go into the next phase of your marriage and start thinking about children (they usually come along in years 3 and 4)!
What Is the 7-Year Itch?
At years 5 to 8 of their marriages, many couples have already had children together, and rates of relationship satisfaction decline. With older children, couples may feel less like they need to “stay together for the kids,” and the bond established by having children may begin to weaken. Although men are more likely to cheat on their spouses in the first 2 years of marriage, women are most likely to cheat around year 6. This is notable because women initiate nearly 70% of divorces.
About the 10-Year Mark
Couples that make it to their 10th wedding anniversary decrease their risk of divorce every year that comes after. Not only do relationship expectations become more realistic over time but children are usually older, as well, and couples have more time for themselves and each other. Further, the prospect of splitting up becomes more emotionally and financially difficult to grapple with.
Gray Divorce
By the time couples are married for 20 years, they are usually in their 50s. Some couples stay together for the sake of their families and want to spend their last years doing what makes them happy – separately. The divorce rate for adults over 50 doubled between 1990 and 2010, leading to the term, “gray divorce.”
Considering a Split? Explore All Your Options!
Sometimes – and 41% of the time in the United States – marriages don’t work out. This is nothing to be ashamed of, and it doesn’t have to mean you go to war with your spouse. In some cases, you and your spouse can separate without seeing the inside of a courtroom.
Whether you need a summary dissolution within the first 5 years of marriage, or you want to explore divorce mediation, our team at Alternative Divorce Solutions can help you end your relationship with communication and respect.
We are here to change the way couples break up for good.
Call us at 949-368-2121 or contact us online to learn more about what we can do for you.