How far do you have to drive to work every day? If it is more than 45 minutes, some studies have found that your divorce odds go up by 40%. That long commute can actually make divorce much more likely.
These studies do find that the increase in divorce odds happens most often when there is a change to someone’s commute or work schedule. If a couple has been married for more than five years, even with a long commute, their divorce odds do not really change. But when someone gets a new job that extends their commute, creating a significant change to the couple’s lifestyle, that is when the divorce odds tend to go up.
Why does this happen?
There are many potential reasons. A long commute can be stressful, for example, so researchers theorize that someone who has been stuck in traffic for a long time may struggle to get along with their family once they get home.
But the biggest issue is simply that the couple is spending more time apart. If someone spends eight hours or more at the office every day, plus an hour and a half on the road, they have less time for their family. This can cause couples to drift apart simply because they do not see each other as often.
Plus, for parents, this can cause some level of resentment. One parent may feel that they are home much more often, taking on all of the obligations related to their children, while their partner is generally at work. They do not feel like they are sharing the responsibilities as parents, and this can lead to arguments and disagreements.
Navigating the divorce process
This does not mean that a long commute will always cause a divorce, but simply that it is one issue couples should watch out for. For those who do find that they are moving toward the end of their marriage, it is important to know exactly what legal steps to take while getting divorced.