Study: Growing Older Doesn't Reduce Birmingham Divorce
A recent study found that conflict levels remain largely unchanged in a marriage over time, debunking the notion that as people get older they mellow out in marriage, CBS News reports.
Whatever the age of the spouse, divorce in Birmingham can be a difficult if there is major conflict in the marriage. Constant arguments, bad feelings or other conflicts make life stressful; an experienced Alabama Divorce Attorney can help take some of the emotion out of the equation.
As the Alabama Divorce & Family Law Attorney Blog recently reported, later in life divorces can leave spouses with many problems to discuss that younger couples don't have to tackle. That includes splitting up assets that have been accrued over time, dealing with retirement plans, a family business and who gets the house, which might not be the asset it once was.
But, at the same time, younger couples have their own problems. While they may not have the same financial concerns, they still have issues to overcome. They likely have less in savings, making the split even more critical to their future. There's a good chance they have children, so child custody in Birmingham is an issue that must be addressed. What the child's primary residential may also be a contentious issue.
A study documented 1,000 couples for 20 years. In 1980, the researchers questioned 2,033 married people 55 or younger about their relationship and the quality of their marriage. Each couple was interviewed up to five additional times through 2000.
The study found that while arguments don't grow less frequent over time, couples that share decision-making roles were happier and less-likely to file for divorce. The level of conflict in the marriage was determined based on "never," "rarely," "sometimes," "often" or "very often."
The study classified marriages as "avoider," "hostile," "validator" and "volatile." More than half -- 54 percent -- fell into the validator realm, meaning couples split decision-making power, were happier and less likely to divorce.
Avoider couples comprised 6 percent of the marriages, where they fell into traditional gender roles with the husband doing little housework and each believing a marriage should last a lifetime.
Volatile marriages made up nearly 20 percent of those surveyed and were marred by high conflict and yet high or moderate happiness levels. Hostile marriages were characterized with high conflict and low happiness levels and were the most likely to end in divorce.
A sharing of input in making major decisions was seen in the low-conflict marriages.
It's not shocking that the study found couples who have the most contentious marriages are more likely to divorce. That seems to be common knowledge. But we all know a couple that seems perfect and ends up going through a divorce. It can come on for a variety of reasons -- infidelity, financial stress, problems with the children or changes in personality that weren't seen in the courting stage.
Whatever the reason and whatever the time of life, divorce can be an emotional roller coaster. Trust an experienced Birmingham Divorce Attorney, who will work to ease the pain and frustration of the process.
More Blog Entries:
Late-Life Birmingham Divorce Can Be a Headache: August 15, 2011
Study Shows that Woman Who Lost Virginity Early More Likely to Divorce in Alabama: July 25, 2011
Additional Resources:
Study: Age doesn't mellow fighting spouses, by Remy Melina, CBS News
