At the beginning of a marriage, newlywed spouses generally profess a deep love for their partner, as well as a commitment to preserving the marriage over time. Unfortunately, an ironic fact about marriage is that this strong desire for marital happiness often fails to translate into relationship success. Although the divorce rate actually has been decreasing over the past couple of decades, recent estimates still suggest that just over 40% of marriages end in divorce or permanent separation. Even more troubling is the fact that the risk of divorce reaches its apex about three years after couples wed. Thus, it seems that the early years of marriage, those years traditionally considered to be the “blissful honeymoon period” of the relationship, are especially difficult as couples learn how to adapt to the inevitable ups and downs of married life. To understand why couples may have difficulty sustaining their initial feelings of happiness and love, we have conducted numerous studies aimed at identifying risk factors for relationship decline, with a special emphasis on how stressful life circumstances may alter relationship functioning.
A few recent findings:
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Experiences of stress can color individuals' perceptions of their partner (When Rose Colored Glasses Turn Cloudy). Read media coverage of this article here and here
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Experiences of stress can undermine individuals' ability to be a good support provider (Too Stressed To Help). Read a blog post on this article here
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Sharing small positive moments with a partner encourages more benevolent responses to a partner's negative behaviors when they occur (The Importance of Investing in Your Relationship)
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Satisfying support from friends and family buffers spouses from the potential negative physiological effects of marital conflict (The Importance of a Few Good Friends). Read a news brief on this article here.