Are life course variables associated with the perceived causes of divorce?
Kitson (1992) found that individuals who married at a young age
were more likely to report difficulties in “settling down,” such as going out
with the boys/girls and infidelity. In addition, Kitson (1992) noted that
people married for a longer time were more likely to mention changes in
interests or having “no sense of family,” whereas people married for a
shorter time were more likely to mention in-laws or sexual problems.
Goode’s (1956) research revealed that complaints of infidelity, drinking,
and the general quality of home life increased with duration of marriage,
whereas complaints about personality and value conflict decreased.
Bloom et al. (1985) found a positive correlation between length of marriage
and infidelity. Although the underlying pattern is not entirely clear, it
appears that long-term marriages are especially likely to be disrupted
when people seek out newsexual partners (perhaps out of boredom) or become
aware of changes in themselves or their partners due to the passage
of time.