A recent study from online divorce service MyDivorcePapers.com revealed that close to 64% of divorce proceedings are initiated by the wife compared to just 36% by the husband. It’s been suggested women may be genetically predisposed to divorce, according to a February 2012 Karolinska Institute study reported by Huffington Post.
Other findings by MDP indicate a wife earning more than her husband could be a causal factor for the breakup of a marriage as well. Whatever the motivator for filing, women have been found to exhibit certain warning signs that indicate a filing is on the way sooner rather than later. While these three findings may not be certainties of a divorce, they are linked.
1. The wife has a closer than usual relationship with her in-laws.
While the opposite was true for relationships between a husband and his in-laws, women who have close bonds to their husband’s parents are 20% more likely to file for divorce. Terri Orbuch, a psychologist and research professor at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, told the Wall Street Journal that this may be because “relationships are so important to women, their identity as a wife and mother is central to their being,” and that over time, the in-law relationship can be construed as meddling.
2. The wife gets cold feet prior to the marriage.
A UCLA study released in September 2012 showed that pre-marital jitters were not to be ignored when it came to divorce, and among cold-footed wives especially, marriages were 19% more likely to end after just four years. Translation: if she’s showing signs of doubt before you say, “I do,” it may be best to avoid asking the question.
3. The wife works longer hours.
The final warning sign she may be the one to file for divorce is if she’s spending more time at work than usual. In a November 2012 article via The Daily Mail, researchers revealed that for every 12 minutes wives stayed late at work, the odds of them filing for divorce went up 1%. Berkay Ozcan, one of the leads on the study, explained: “They are working as a form of insurance in case of divorce or in anticipation of it. Divorce is harder on women.”
While being aware of the warning signs may not ultimately save a marriage, it can help one take steps towards improving a relationship. If you’ve experienced divorce from either the male or female perspective, what warning signs in your spouse did you notice?