In Australia 38% of all marriages end up in divorce

Generally, people in relationships are happier than those who aren’t. After all, the bond brings out many intense emotions of excitement, anticipation and glitter. Anything and everything your partner does seems magical, so much so, that you want to cherish each walking moment and find it difficult to keep your hands off each other.

However, over the course of time, the sparkle inevitably wears off, bringing with it the risk of the relationship breaking down. In Australia 38% of all marriages end up in divorce, while countless more relationships just fall by the wayside. This gradual increase in divorces has much to do with the Family Law Act in 1975, which brought the concept of ‘no-fault divorce’.

It meant that both parties could obtain a divorce without the need to prove any wrong-doings in court. This raises the question: what are the causes of divorce in Australia?

Although the causes of a breakdown may be irrelevant to one’s ability to file and obtain a divorce, it’s important for couples to understand the main causes of divorces so they can do their best to avoid it.  These causes vary from relationship to relationship and are often interrelated, but studies show that inattention to the relationship is the reason why most couples ultimately split.

A whopping 71% of divorcees have blamed “affective issues” as the cause of their divorce, an Australian study indicated. Don’t quite know what affective issues are? They include the following:

• Trust/infidelity issues
• Loss of connection
• Communication problems

Other causes of marital breakdown in Australia include:

• Family interference
• Time/work pressures
• Financial problems
• Mental or physical health issues
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Emotional or physical abuse

These interesting statistics suggest relationships require a great deal of attention and care in order to have any chance of survival. Studies focused on long-term relationships or marriages have cited the following elements as essential for the development for successful relationships:

• Flexibility in times of transition
• A great deal of respect for each other and a mutual sense of appreciation
• The ability to cooperate
• Faithfulness and trust
• Being supportive for each other
• Sexual relations/physical closeness
• Shared meaning and common values
• The ability to discuss problems openly
• Strong communication skills

People can learn, develop and nurture each of the aforementioned elements in their relationships, but you don’t necessarily need to do this on your own. By seeking the assistance of a couple’s therapist, you can learn to communicate with your partner in a contained and calm environment.

With better communication comes greater trust, renewed intimacy and, not to mention, a stronger connection. Moreover, good communication skills will also allow you to address any problems you and your partner may be facing in your relationship, before they become irreversible or insurmountable.