Breaking marriage and divorce down into numbers and statistics may seem cold and calculating, but it presents an interesting picture.

2. Marriages end all the time. In the United States, the divorce rate is
currently estimated to be between 40% and 50%, which is
approximately twice what it was in 1960. Relationships crumble for any
number of reasons, from infidelity to abuse to two people simply not
getting along. A recent study out of Australia, where one-third of
marriages end in divorce, digs into the factors that lead to marital
stability.

3. Using numbers from seven waves of the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia
survey, otherwise known as HILDA, this study from the Australian National University traces 2,482
married couples over six years. Analyzing the data, they look at the individual characteristics of
husbands and wives to see which are most associated with marital stability. They then glance at
whether or not unions between similar or dissimilar partners have a better chance of success.

4. This is dense, heady stuff to be sure, but the results present an interesting
look into underlying causes behind divorce and separation. Through
examining the data and crunching the numbers, the research team identified
four main categories associated with marital instability that can lead to
the dissolution of marriage.

5. Different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Various levels of education. Distinct religious beliefs.
Stances on alcohol and cigarette consumption. Even preferences for number of children.
These all seem like potential marital powder kegs waiting to explode. The data reflects that a
number of these variables do impact marital instability. Others, perhaps surprisingly, don’t
figure in as much as you may expect.

6. In this data sample, a large age gap between spouses influences marital
stability. This can go both ways, and either the husband or wife being
significantly older than the other can cause problems. Different levels of
education, desire for children, and even alcohol consumption all appear to
impact the relative strength of a marriage—couples where the wife drinks
more than the husband are two-thirds more likely to separate.

7. Other factors you might anticipate playing a part in shaking a marriage, however, aren’t
always as significant. Neither country of birth nor a difference in religious preferences prove to
be noteworthy marital detriments. Couples who both smoke showed no signs of increased
likelihood of separation, though when only one spouse smokes, those numbers spike.

8. You may very well expect that overall satisfaction with a relationship has a
substantial relationship with marital instability. It may sound obvious that
couples where both parties get what they want and need out of a marriage
are less likely to split up, and the HILDA data supports this.

9. The examination of the numbers showed that couples where the husband is dissatisfied, but the
wife is satisfied, are less likely to separate than one where the positions are swapped. A marriage
made up of a contented husband but an unhappy wife is significantly more likely to end in
divorce than the other way around.

10. In one form or another, most of us are well aware of how stressful money
issues can be in a relationship. Income, employment status, and more can
contribute greatly to the stability or instability of a marriage. Couples with
a higher total household income are at a reduced risk for a split.

11. While a wife’s employment status is not shown to be a significant component to divorce,
separation, or stability, a husband’s, on the other hand, can play a substantial role in marital
discord. If a husband is unemployed, the risk of a marital rift more than triples.

12. The length of a marriage. Whether or not the spouses are themselves
children of divorce. The age at which the two parties married. If a couple
lived together first, any previous children. Whether or not this is a first
marriage. All of these may all factor into marital instability. Though some
play more of a role than others.

13. When one or both sets of parents divorced or separated, a couple is at an increased risk of
following suit. The younger the spouses are when they wed, the higher the chance is that they
will eventually split up. If this is a second marriage, or beyond, the chances of a break-up
increase, especially if both parties have been married before.

14. There has been quite a bit of debate on the topic, though according to
the HILDA numbers, cohabitation before marriage does not significantly
impact the chances of a couple separating down the road. Neither does
the age or number of children born to the union. However, couples with
children born before the marriage face an amplified probability of a split.

15. While these numbers may be interesting to look at, what exactly do they mean? Is this the way
every marriage will play out? If you and your wife have different ideas about kids, is your
relationship doomed? Just because your first marriage failed, does that mean your next one
will? No, of course not. These are broad statistical patterns gleaned from a wide sample set.

16. More than anything, looking at these results appears to back up what
many think of as common sense. Money problems can cause strain on a
marriage. Children can be an issue in a number of different ways. If you’re
not satisfied, it can lead to conflict and strife. These variables, as well as
many others, may or may not contribute to the stability, or lack thereof,
in your marriage.

17. Moving forward, it may be beneficial to be aware of the potential impact and pitfalls. Things you
may expect to be huge hurdles may not at least mathematically speaking, be a huge deal. On the
other hand, elements that may not have appeared as vital can be destabilizing forces. This study
simply provides another analytical tool when it comes to looking at marriage, divorce, and family.

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