Does socioeconomic status play into reasons for divorce?

There may be many reasons a couple’s marriage gets into trouble. But the common denominator listed as one of the reasons for divorce in many cases are money woes. When a New Jersey couple can’t get the way they think about money on the same page, could it cause real problems within the marriage? A recent study showed that the socioeconomic status of a couple does affect their relationship.

The study, conducted by two U.S. universities, contacted 431 couples living in low-income areas five times in five years asking such questions as how satisfied they were with the amount of time they spend together and how much they trust their spouses. Those responding to the questionnaire were put into three separate categories of initial satisfaction in their marriages: high, moderate and low. Sixty percent fell into the high satisfaction category, while 30% were in the moderate category and 10% in the low.

Researchers also tracked satisfaction based on gender and went on to identify couples most at risk financially to see if they were represented disproportionately in the group of those who were least satisfied with their marriages. It was true for wives, but not for husbands. The study concluded that the most declines in marital satisfaction were from those experiencing low levels of satisfaction in the first place. The bottom line is that the study showed financially disadvantaged couples revealed risky and resilient relationships which were more stable in the newlywed years.

The reasons for a couple divorcing are personal and distinct to that couple. But whatever the reason for the divorce, each spouse would be wise to seek independent guidance and advice from a New Jersey attorney to navigate the divorce process. A lawyer can answer questions about the most complex areas of divorce such as child custody, child support, division of property, among others.