There are many things that can affect the chances that a couple will divorce. These include the age at which they got married, if their own parents are divorced and the level of conflict in their relationship.
Career choices can also significantly change whether or not their marriage lasts. For instance, one study looked at the length of each spouse’s commute. If a person’s commute was more than 45 minutes each way, their odds of divorce went up by 40%. This does not mean that a long commute guarantees divorce, but it can certainly play a role.
Why does this happen?
The big issue with a long commute is not that it affects the marriage directly, but that the couple does not have as much time to spend together. This can take a toll on their relationship over time.
This may be especially true if the couple has children. One spouse may feel like they spend 90% of the time with the children, taking on all of those responsibilities and essentially raising the children on their own. Their spouse does see the kids as much. With the combination of working for eight or nine hours during the day and then commuting at least 45 minutes both ways to work, the division of labor does not seem fair.
To some degree, this can just happen if someone has a demanding career, regardless of their commute. Some entrepreneurs find themselves spending 12 hours or more at work, trying to get their business off the ground, for example. While a couple may be able to withstand this type of hectic schedule for a short time, if it continues indefinitely, they do not realistically spend much time together, and their relationship can begin to fray.
Navigating the divorce process
Are you and your spouse getting closer to a divorce this year? If so, be sure you understand all of your rights when it comes to property division, child custody rights and more.