A classic 1997 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family analyzed over a decade’s worth of data from thousands of married couples to figure out the top causes of divorce. The researchers came up with six, which are explained below.

While the research was conducted more than 20 years ago, the results are as relevant today as they were when first published.

Infidelity remains one of the primary precursors to divorce, significantly undermining trust and emotional security within a relationship. When one partner breaches the fidelity pact, it leads to profound emotional pain and a sense of betrayal. This breach can erode the foundation of the relationship, making it difficult for the injured party to regain trust or for the relationship to recover fully.

Psychological studies consistently show that infidelity is not merely a physical act but a breach of emotional commitment and integrity, which are crucial for sustaining a healthy marital bond.

“Consistent with prior literature, infidelity was associated with an especially large increase in the odds of divorce,” write the authors, Paul Amato and Stacy Rogers,........

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