What Exactly is the 7-Year Itch? The 7-Year Itch is the idea that marriages start to decline or end in divorce around the seven-year mark due to boredom or even unhappiness. Either one or both partners can feel the 7-Year Itch and can be produced by several different factors, including: Lack of communication.
The seven-year itch is a popular belief, sometimes quoted as having psychological backing, that happiness in a marriage or long-term romantic relationship declines after around seven years.
Some of the most common include disagreements over money, infidelity, lack of communication, passive aggressive behavior and more. Other reasons for divorce include longer life expectancy, which may compel older couples to divorce, or the mental and emotional strain that comes with having young children.
According to relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein, LCSW, as it turns out, the first year really is the hardest—even if you've already lived together. In fact, it often doesn't matter if you've been together for multiple years, the start of married life is still tricky.
Is the seven-year itch real? There's no definitive proof that the seven-year itch is real — or that it isn't, either. “While research outcomes vary somewhat, the percentage of divorces, particularly in first-time marriages, tends to spike around the seven- or eight-year mark,” Dr. Borland notes.
The 7-Year Itch is the idea that marriages start to decline or end in divorce around the seven-year mark due to boredom or even unhappiness. Either one or both partners can feel the 7-Year Itch and can be produced by several different factors, including: Lack of communication. Miscommunication.
Couples experiencing the seven year itch disagree with each other more, become less affectionate, share fewer activities, and express overall dissatisfaction with their marriages, says Kurdek, whose study was published in the September 1999 issue of the journal Developmental Psychology.
While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. Of those two high-risk periods, there are two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.
Routine, responsibilities, unresolved conflict, and not spending quality time together are just a few reasons couples grow apart. “Long-term relationships require ongoing intentionality and commitment,” explains Elyssa Helfer, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sexologist in Los Angeles.
Coming Together After a Legal Separation
According to U.S. statistics, 87 percent of couples who legally separate eventually get a divorce, while only 13 percent choose to come back together.
For those who'd like to put a number to things, usually, a gap of 1-7 years can be considered an acceptable age difference between adults. People whose ages are within 1-3 years typically do not see much of an age difference, while years 4-7 might begin to feel a little bit more pronounced.
Safety, Faithfulness, Commitment and Reliability are 4 pillars of trust every marriage needs. If any one of these is missing, the roof starts caving in and the relationship starts to deteriorate. Marriages thrive when both partners feel safe and secure.
Although seven may seem like an arbitrary anniversary, it's a meaningful milestone on the way to a decade of marriage. Plus, it's a number packed with symbolism that spans religions, mythology, superstition, and philosophy. Most importantly–it's lucky!
Approximately 15-20% of married couples report being in a sexless marriage. Factors that contribute to sexless marriages include stress, medical issues, mental health struggles, low libido or sexual desire mismatch, lack of emotional connection, and relationship conflicts.
The crude divorce rate (divorces per 1,000 Australian residents) was 2.2 divorces per 1,000 residents in 2021, up from 1.9 in 2020. The total number of divorces granted in 2021 was 56,244, the highest number of divorces recorded since 1976.
A scabies infestation causes intense itching (pruritus) which leads to scratching and damage of the skin (excoriation). If left untreated, the infestation may last for years, and has been called the seven year itch. This is a photomicrograph of a skin scraping that contains a scabies mite, eggs, and feces.
But recently you've been experiencing some serious FOMO when it comes to your career. Maybe you're not picking up any new skills or the work just isn't as exciting as it used to be. Whatever the reason, this feeling of boredom or need for change is common, and often referred to as the 7 year itch.
Be fair and brave – tell your partner you're breaking up in person. Don't call your partner to end the relationship, or app, email or leave a voicemail. Set a date and time. Avoid ending your relationship during an argument or springing the 'news' on your partner.
The first year of the relationship is the hardest stage, and even when you're living together, you still discover new things about each other every day. How to Survive: The key to getting past the discovery stage is also discovery. The discovery of your partner's imperfections and your imperfections as well.
"In any endeavor, boredom sets in over time — this is because the novel becomes the routine," says Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, a licensed family and marriage therapist. "I've found the 7-year itch cycle to be quite valid. After 7 years, most couples go through a period of 'dis-ease.
The average relationship length in your 30s is 4 years long. 30-year-olds better understand what they are looking for in a serious relationship. And their maturity levels are higher so that they can have a more successful relationship.