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Since marriages are dynamic and always changing, especially at some key points in a person's life, it's hard to pin down when divorces are more likely to occur. However, studies show that there are five common risk factors that may greatly contribute to the breakdown of the marriage.
Factor #1: Contempt towards a spouse
A spouse who shows content and disrespect towards his/her partner does not foster a safe environment in the house. Psychotherapist Robi Ludwig says "I don't think you can love someone who you don't respect. If you don't respect your partner, how can you make her your go-to person when you need to be nurtured or taken care of?" Somebody who makes fun of your dreams, brushes them aside as foolish, who openly disregards your fears and belittles your efforts is making the marriage difficult to stay in.
Factor #2: Serious Illnesses
One of the top risk factors in marriages is when one partner falls ill. Not all partners respond to this positively. Some can be great caregivers, but some may feel incredibly burdened by the responsibilities. This burden may put too much of a strain on the marriage. Spouses with illness may also find that they are incapable of accepting the fact that they now need their spouse as a caregiver. Some people respond to a serious illness in extreme ways. There are people who fixate on being a caregiver to their partners that when they get well, they suddenly have a crisis as their need to be needed goes unfulfilled.
Factor #3: Addiction and/or Abuse
Having a spouse who has an addiction and a propensity to abuse is serious marriage breaker.
Factor #4: A big difference in income
This is more common for families where women earn more than their husbands. The women may feel that they are carrying too much burden on their shoulder and may become critical towards their husbands. They may also lose respect towards their husbands. The husbands, on the other hand, may develop feelings of inadequacy because they are not the primary income earner in the household.
Factor #5: Regrets about things they're missing out on
This is especially common with people who married young or who start out their married life already burdened with child-raising responsibilities. The perceived need to experience things that they missed out on could become a continuous nagging feeling throughout the marriage.
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