Marriages are falling apart every passing day, divorce has become a word as common as bread with its steady increase from the 90s till date.
These days, couples staying married for about 20 years or more is not a guarantee that it wouldn’t eventually end in divorce. According to the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State, “in 2010, one in four divorces occurred among people age 50 and above and the 50-plus set was more than twice as likely to be divorced than in 1990”.
In Africa, most cultures forbid divorce but it doesn’t seem to have much effect on the increase in divorce rates.
Here are five reasons we think couples who seem so in love at the beginning of their marriages end up splitting after a while.
1. Lack of communication: this is one of the major problem marriages have. According to attorney Hugh Raichlin, “People find it difficult to communicate with each other – and after the initial infatuation period, reality hits home.”
2. Unreconcilable issues: this includes domestic violence (including physical and mental abuse), a cheating spouse, addiction to alcohol and/or drugs, and so on. Couples who aren’t able to find lasting solutions to these problems most times end up in divorce.
3. Love gone cold: usually a consequence of getting married for the wrong reasons, couples find themselves bored after the fog of infatuation is cleared.
4. Interference from family: although most occurrent in Africa, it also affects marriages everywhere in the world.
5. Sex: Usually the intimacy department experiences a subtle change as couples get older. “Hormonal changes that arise with age can cause significant shifts in sex drive. And though every couple of every age experiences differentials in desire, these can become more pronounced with age.” says Jessica O’Reilly, author of The New Sex Bible.
Marriage might not be a bed roses, that doesn’t mean it should be endured and enjoyed. It is hard work, but with dedication, persistence, honesty and a sprinkle of love, that ship should sail just fine.