The Impact of Unemployment on Marriage: Why Job Loss Increases the Risk of Divorce

Unemployment is a difficult situation that may affect many parts of a person's life. For married couples, it can be a significant strain on their relationship. The loss of a job can trigger various emotions and create significant financial stress, leading to conflicts and communication issues within a relationship. In this blog post, we will explore why job loss heightens divorce risks, the financial and psychological impact of unemployment, communication challenges, and obstacles to divorce.

How Job Loss Heightens Divorce Risks

Job loss can heighten divorce risks in several ways. When a person loses their job, they may experience a significant decrease in self-worth, leading to depression and anxiety. These feelings can negatively affect the individual's relationships, causing them to withdraw or become irritable, leading to conflicts with their spouse. “While job loss affects both spouses, studies have shown that husbands in particular who are unemployed or working part-time are at a higher risk of divorce than those with full-time employment,” says attorney Kellam T. Parks of Parks Zeigler, PLLC.

Other job loss problems include:

Financial Stress

Money is a crucial factor in marriage, and a job loss can create instability in a household and a significant financial burden for a family. Without a steady income, paying bills, covering expenses, and maintaining a certain standard of living can become challenging. This financial stress can cause arguments and resentment between partners, leading to marital issues. This can even go up a notch when couples may be forced to make difficult decisions, such as selling their home or car.

The Psychological Impact of Unemployment

 Losing a job can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and purposelessness. This can create a toxic environment within a household and negatively affect the individual's relationships with their spouse.

Lack of Communication

Unemployment can also lead to a breakdown in communication between partners. When one partner loses their job, they may feel embarrassed or ashamed, leading them to withdraw emotionally from their spouse. They may also feel like they are burdening their partner with their problems and choose to keep their worries to themselves. This lack of communication can breed misunderstandings, assumptions, and resentment, further damaging the relationship.

Divorce Obstacles

Despite unemployment challenges, the unemployed partner may hesitate to seek a divorce due to financial constraints. Ending a marriage can be expensive, and the lack of income may make it difficult to pay for legal fees and court costs. The only other alternative is borrowing, which also comes with its constraints. Secondly, the division of assets can be quite complicated during a divorce. This is mostly true when the family has already had to sell valuable properties and items to make ends meet. Disagreements may arise over the distribution of assets in the event of a divorce involving an unemployed spouse, potentially exacerbating the situation.

The unemployed partner may require greater financial assistance, which may result in the court ordering the other partner to provide more assets, including spousal support and higher child support. If the unemployed party gains custody of the children, it may be financially burdensome, as they will have to bear the cost of childcare while working. Furthermore, the other party may not have the financial means to provide child support, leading to a financial loss in the divorce.

Conclusion

Unemployment can significantly impact a marriage, leading to tension, stress, and divorce. While it's not always possible to avoid job loss, communication and support between partners can help to ease the strain and strengthen the relationship during this difficult time.