Many studies have been done and are currently being done to analyze marriages and, more specifically, to try to determine red flag issues that appear to suggest a higher risk for marriages that don’t last a lifetime. A recent study shows a common factor among many married couples that often leads to a breakdown in their relationships. In short, researchers have determined that the divorce rate may be much higher for couples in New Jersey or elsewhere who had a child together before marriage.
What effect does a premarital birth have on a marriage?
The study was conducted with more than 430 participants, whose first four-plus years of marriage were analyzed. Spouses who had a child together before their wedding day filed for divorce twice as often as those who did not have children before marriage. Researchers say that spouses who entered marriage with children in tow seemed to have less efficient communication skills than married couples who were childless on their wedding day.
Spouses who enter marriage with children also seem to report less satisfaction in their marriages more often than those who waited until after they were married to have children. Also, many couples who later filed for divorce said that having a child before marriage was the primary reason that they chose to get married, which may have had a negative effect on their marital relationship. Researchers also noted that most of the couples who filed for divorce after entering marriage with children were considered low-income families according to federal poverty levels.
There is no way to predict with certainty
While various studies may show common factors among participants who get married and then later file for divorce, there is no way to predict with 100% certainty which marriages will last a lifetime and which will not. Many married couples who did not have children before their wedding day may also encounter relationship problems that ultimately lead to divorce. The exact cause of a divorce may not be as important as building a strong support network once a decision has been made to end a marriage, including reaching out for legal support, as needed.