The reasons that any marriage falls apart could be completely unique, but experts do watch for trends and note different factors that frequently come into play. One columnist recently wrote about his opinions on divorce for younger couples — he’s still in his 20s — and pointed out a few challenges that may be faced.
For one thing, he said that people could be facing significant debt, which is often far higher than it used to be. Specifically, he pointed out that buying a home could cost $300,000 and college loans could add $200,000 more. That would put a young couple, just starting out in their relationship, with half a million dollars in debt. That debt creates a lot of stress, and stress can break down a marriage.
He also said that technology could play a role because people do things virtually, not in person. They have important conversations in text messages, for example, or use the Internet to shop for home furnishings. Before, people had to talk face to face or at least hear each other’s voices on the phone. Virtual communication could cause people to feel more isolated and not as close as they once did.
Finally, he noted that technology could even cause arguments and raise suspicions. He pointed out that his grandmother didn’t talk to her husband all day while he was at work — she simply couldn’t. Now, he said, some couples start to worry about a cheating spouse if a text isn’t returned in a half hour.
Again, all relationships are different, but these examples do show how the changing world can cause marriages to break down. If yours does, be sure you know your rights, especially when considering things like spousal support, property division and child support.
Source: APP, “5 reasons we can’t handle marriage anymore,” Anothony D’Ambrosio, accessed Feb. 16, 2017
