According to a study in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, many divorces in Texas and around the country occur because the relationships aren’t fulfilling in some way. The study asked 2,371 people who were in heterosexual relationships why their marriages came to an end. Of those who took part, 47% said that they simply were not in love with their partners anymore. In some cases, people simply didn’t have feelings for their partners after many years or decades together.
A lack of communication was another reason commonly cited by the study’s participants. Of those who took part, 44% said that this caused distress or other issues in their relationships. Previous research has also established that a failure to communicate can be a relationship killer. In some cases, relationships ended because a couple lost respect or trust for each other. Some believe that respect is just as important to a successful relationship as love is.
Researchers say that the results of this study may indicate that the meaning of marriage is different today than it has been in the past. Those who don’t respect or love their partners may be more willing to find emotional fulfillment elsewhere. The same is true of those who don’t feel as if their partners love, trust or respect them.
The end of a marriage may be an emotional time for all parties involved. However, it may be necessary to put those emotions aside in an effort to finalize a divorce in an affordable and timely manner. An attorney may be able to help accomplish that goal. Individuals may also want to go through mediation as a means to work through their issues in a setting that is less adversarial than a courtroom.
