One study showed that as many as 50% of people regretted getting divorced. But apparently it depends on who you ask. In another study, 68% of those who divorced had no regrets.
What is the percentage of people who regret their divorce? According to a study by relationship expert and author Terry Gaspard, 50% of divorced individuals claimed to have regrets about their decision to end their marriage.
With that said, if you've been having second thoughts or regrets about separation or divorce, you're not alone. Divorce regrets and second thoughts are all completely normal, and even to be expected.
Statistics show that while women initiate divorce almost twice the rate that men do, women are also much more likely to greatly struggle financially after divorce. This is particularly true if children are involved.
For some, the regret may creep in immediately, while it can take years for others to realize they regret their decision to get divorced. It's important to understand if you regret your divorce because you miss your partner versus the divorce process has taken longer and has been more emotionally draining than expected.
Even after your divorce has been granted, you may continue to experience guilt. There's no set time period after which guilt automatically disappears – each person deals with a unique grieving process in his or her own time.
Divorce puts a strain on the financial, social, and emotional relationships of the partners. This time particularly can be devastating for women who may lose confidence, be forced into custody issues, and may lose hope of ever finding happiness again. Some women find it hard to return to their normal self again.
Many people consider the separation phase to be the most difficult. This is the time between when you decide to get divorced and the date you actually get divorced. This period often presents the most uncertainties about child support, visitation, alimony, division of assets, and more.
Perhaps the most difficult period of divorce is the “separation period.” That is the time between when you decide to get a divorce, and the date when you are actually divorced.
According to available Census data, the divorce rate for second marriages in the United States is over 60% compared to around 50% for first marriages.
The average age at the first divorce
The average age for newly married couples going through their first divorce in the United States is 30 years old. About 34% of all divorces initiate spouses aged 25 to 29. The percentage of people 55 to 64 years old who got divorced for the first time is about 43%.
Shame is one of the most toxic emotions associated with divorce. And people feel it for all sorts of reasons. Some people feel shame for “failing” at their marriages or putting on a brave face for too long. Others feel shame for being unfaithful, or for having a partner that was unfaithful to them.
Men undergoing and even after their divorce are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia (inability to sleep). Due to physical and emotional health issues, their immune system gets weakened. They are more likely to suffer from colds and flu than others.
According to various studies, the 4 most common causes of divorce are lack of commitment, infidelity or extramarital affairs, too much conflict and arguing, and lack of physical intimacy.
They found out that 27% of women and 32% of men found themselves regretting divorce. The survey also found that most participants attached a great value to personal happiness in marriage. And if it did not bring any positive feelings, 75% of women and 58% of men would prefer to be alone than in an unhappy relationship.
Dr. Klapow tells Bustle that one significant factor that might make divorce worse than a more casual breakup is logistics. "Divorce can have a more significant and devastating impact because the legal implications turn a marriage split into a far more logistically challenging process," he tells Bustle.
Feelings of loss, anger, confusion, anxiety, and many others, all may come from this transition. Divorce can leave children feeling overwhelmed and emotionally sensitive. Children need an outlet for their emotions – someone to talk to, someone who will listen, etc.
If there's abuse, drug use or alcoholism, infidelity, or a plain inability to overcome the past – then a divorce may be the better option. And, while separation is a viable option, it can put you at risk if your spouse is taking advantage of you financially.
Remarriage Statistics
There is good news for divorcees in respect to finding another partner. Nearly 80 percent of divorced people get remarried. Six percent of people even remarry the same spouse.
Key points. Research suggests that 10-15% of couples reconcile after they separate, and about 6% of couples marry each other again after they divorce. Some remarry after working through the trauma of a betrayal or because despite their problems, they still have deep feelings for the other.
A lack of love and affection
In a survey of 2,371 divorcees, nearly half blamed a lack of love and intimacy, making it the most common reason for ending a marriage, according to a 2020 study in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.
There are 5 common emotions people experience during the divorce process. They are often referred to as the 5 stages of grief. They include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Naturally, these expand to more nuanced emotions that vary based on your circumstances.