Why will couples separate in 2023? As the year 2023 has (barely) begun, the British charity Relate surveyed 2,033 adults about their romantic plans for the coming year: 19% of them would already consider ending their relationship and even thought about the prospect of a divorce or separation, with men thinking about it the most (25% versus 19% of women). MDespite this, the women would nevertheless be almost twice as likely to file for divorce than men in heterosexual marriages.
So, it’s #DivorceDay. The biggest day for divorce inquiries of the year.
A quarter (25%) of men in relationships in our poll of 2033 UK adults say they have thought about the prospect of divorce or separation in 2023 compared to 14% of women. (1/4)
—Relate (@Relate_charity) January 9, 2023
But why ? In 2023, money seems to be at the heart of marital troubles. More than a third of respondents (35%) indicated that inflation and the decline in purchasing power could put additional pressure on their couple in the coming months. The beginning of January is also a risky time for couples, especially when tensions have reached their peak at Christmas and everyone is looking for a fresh start.
“Financial worries are a problem for many couples (…) especially when their household income does not keep pace with the rising cost of living”says John Smith, adviser at Relate.
Commit without being ready enough
To cope with rising inflation over the months, some young couples decide to move in together more quickly in order to save rent, bills or even food shopping… at the risk of not being ready for a life together. A sometimes hasty decision that can inevitably lead to ruptures.
Another difficulty: for lack of money or the desire to keep aside, some couples do not plan time apart to consolidate their ties. “It’s important for partners to spend quality time together, but some activities like eating out or weekends come at a cost“, he admits. Difficult then to spend time with two or without children, allowing to reconnect.
In a couple already in a situation of conflict, the cost of living can also be a factor delaying the decision to separate. The couple will then cohabit for the time that the two people can be financially independent, which can sometimes complicate and make the situation (even more) tense. “This can be particularly problematic when children are involved, and we know from research that sustained, unresolved parental conflict is more detrimental to children’s emotional health than parental separation.“, continues John Smith.
“If you are having problems in your relationship, it is important to talk about it and ideally get help as soon as possible.“, concludes the adviser.
Source :Relate
