Some people feel a pressure to get married. Maybe all of their friends recently got married? Or maybe their parents are always asking, “When are you going to settle down?” Whatever the reason is, internal or external, there are many people who simply feel the urge to get married at certain points in their lives.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with being in love and wanting to get married. Statistically speaking though, depending on your age, you may be more likely to get divorced.
Nicholas Wolfinger, a sociologist, recently analyzed data from the National Survey of Family Growth and found that those who wait to get married until they are in their 30s have a greater risk of divorce than those who get married in their late 20s. In fact, starting at age 32 — if not yet married — the risk for divorce after marriage goes up by 5 percent each year.
Reading this finding, you may now be wondering why this is. Why does the risk for divorce go up the longer you wait to get married in your 30s?
While there is not necessarily just one specific reason, Wolfinger points out that those who wait until 32 or older may just not be the marrying type. Therefore, they are more likely to end up unhappy in their marriages and file for divorce.
In looking at this study though, keep in mind that divorce is something that affects people of all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds. There are many reasons why a marriage will work out or end in divorce. No matter the reason though, it is important for spouses to realize that divorce is not the end of the world and that there are specific steps that can be taken to protect one’s future. A divorce attorney is someone who can provide information that is more specific to a person’s situation.