COVID-19 has changed a lot about our lives over the past two years. How has it affected marriages?
Relationship Trends Over COVID-19
In general, divorces and separations have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a temporary decrease of divorces and marriages in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic when almost all plans were put on hold. However, there has been a steady increase in divorces since summer 2020.
Why might this be the case?
Quarantine
While many people enjoy quality time alone with their spouse, quarantine proved too much for many couples. Not only were spouses spending more time indoors together than ever before, but they also lost time spent with outside connections. So much time spent with one another showed some couples that their marriages weren’t what they wanted long term.
Financial Hardship
Millions of people suffered from job loss, pay cuts, reduced hours, and more over the last two years. Some spouses found themselves in difficult financial situations that permanently affected their marriage.
Stress
Stress has been a concern for almost everyone over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, some individuals have less healthy ways of dealing with stress.
Some attempt to cope by:
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Bottling up emotions and experiencing outbursts
- Isolation from others
- Taking out stress on others
If one or both spouses experienced unhealthy stress throughout the pandemic, it could have been what led to irreparable damage to the relationship.
Are You Considering Divorce?
If you and your spouse have been feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on your marriage, you may be considering getting divorced. If you are unsure of your decision but know you need time apart, you may choose to explore a legal separation instead.
In either case, Lokken & Putnam, P.C. is here for all of your family law needs. Once you have made a decision about whether or not to divorce or separate, give our Salt Lake City office a call at (801) 829-9783 today to get started with a legal professional.