7 Ways to Predict a Divorce

1. The way a relationship starts can predict how it will end. Experts call this the “harsh startup,” and it’s a great predictor of the way things will wind down.

2. Your income levels can actually impact your marriage success. Lower-income couples and couples with very different incomes as well as couples who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be divorced than others.

3. How a couple looks back on their relationship is a key indicator to if it will end. One therapist said that, when she interviews couples, those who look back on their early days fondly are the happy couples and, even when they remember the bad times, they draw strength from it.

4. Age differences might actually matter. Women three or more years older than their husbands are 53 percent more likely to get divorced than those who are just a year older or up to three years younger.

5. It may seem obvious, but longevity is a good indicator. The longer you’re together, the longer you’re likely to be together. Census data hows that the famous itch is more likely to hit around four years or seven.

6. Four kinds of negativity are known as The Four Horsemen of divorce: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. If these are regular participants in your marriage, divorce might be the next visitor.

7. People who focus on a fancy ring and wedding are more likely to be headed for divorce. A study from Emory University found that people who pay more than $20,000 are 350 percent more likely to get a divorce than people who spend under $10,000.