Why do couples divorce?

Feb 26, 2018 Editorial

In life, things happen not only by accident but for a reason and divorce is one of those life events that just does not happen by accident. Today, the divorce rate in most countries is very high with one in two marriages ending in divorce.
In a marriage, whether it has been a year or 20 years, problems will emerge and will build-up over time if they are not solved immediately. No one is perfect, but if one or both of the spouses do not trust one another or chooses not to share their feelings with one another, the probability of a divorce is very likely.
Divorce is a very stressful life event that has resulted in many broken hearts. It is an emotionally wrenching experience and can fracture families. Divorces have left lifelong scars in children. It is prevalent in Guyana and in other countries.
It is one of the more sobering realities in the world in the 21st century. Divorce occurs over a host of issues, including infidelity, stress, money troubles, lack of trust and communication, infertility, too much arguing, physical and mental abuse, high expectations, cultural and religious differences and personal changes by one or both spouses over the course of the marriage. Not to mention the involvement of in-laws and other family members.
Divorce is a fact of life in every country. It occurs across all demographics. It is considered taboo in some Asian, African and Middle East countries, but in the west, it can be as much a blessing as marriage.
Today we live in a world where divorce is no longer a hushed topic, but a process that is readily available in times of need. The fact that the divorce rate is much higher in some countries than in others is due largely to the social, cultural and religious background of each country.
Contrary to what many people say or think about divorce, it is actually far more common today than most realise. In the United States and other western countries, the divorce rate is higher than in most Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries and it is very costly.
Very few countries in the Middle East report on their divorce statistics, however, data from the United Nations Annual Demographic Year Book reveals that Jordan has the highest divorce rate in the region at 25 percent. Religion is the biggest determining factor for the low divorce rate in the Middle East compared to Western states.
According to the American Psychological Association, the United States has a divorce rate of 53 percent which equates to one divorce every six seconds for first time marriages, 61 percent for second marriages and 73 percent for third marriages. The US has the 12th highest divorce rate in the world.
Surprisingly, Paris which is considered the city of love and the most romantic place on earth is one of the most heavily divorce cities in the world. At 55 percent, France is the 9th most divorced country in the world.
However, Belgium holds the title as the most divorced country in the world with a rate of 71 percent followed by Hungary with 67 percent and Belarus with 63 percent. In China, India and Japan, the divorce rate is low compared to the United States and the western countries. Russia and Cuba have a divorce rate of 52 percent and 54 percent respectively with the latter being the highest in all of the Caribbean and the 10th in the world.
The fact that divorce and cohabitation are on the increase in the Caribbean and marriage is on the decline is in part due to the penetration of other countries’ cultures, mainly the US through television, movies and visits. Data on the divorce rate in Guyana are unavailable, but the leading causes are malicious desertion, physical abuse, and the “no-fault” divorce law which has empowered the spouse (generally the male) to leave the marriage with little consequence.