The Impact of Political Differences on Marriage

 Posted on November 29, 2018 in Family Law

Married couples often disagree over aspects of their lives together, such as what movie they should see, their spending habits, or the details of how to raise their children. Currently, there is also evidence that political ideology is causing more divorces than before because of the shift in the political climate of the United States. A study done by Wakefield Research, a polling research firm, examined the effect political ideology has had on marriage since the 2016 presidential election.

Breakdown of the Results

Wakefield sent out a survey to couples to ask about the effect the political climate is having on their relationship. The data they received indicated that 11% of Americans have ended a romantic relationship because they disagreed with their significant other on political ideology. Millennials were even more likely to say they ended a relationship due to politics, with 22% of millennials responding say they ended a relationship due to political affiliation.

When asked about the current political landscape, 22% of the respondents to the survey stated they know a couple whose relationship has been strained due to the 2016 presidential election, including 35% of millennials who responded.

How to Handle Political Differences

Disagreement is something which is going to be present in every couple’s lives, but learning how to discuss issues and truly try to empathize with the other person can mitigate the strain on some relationships. The desire to try to convince others that their way of thinking is wrong and yours is right often does more harm than good if you do not approach it in the right way. Listening to each other and allowing people to fully explain themselves will at least give you a better idea of their reasoning for their ideology. It will also give you the knowledge of how the other side views your thoughts and might even allow you to empathize with others more. Discussions about sensitive topics like politics require patience and discipline to not accuse or position yourself as the opposition, so it is important to keep that in mind.

Contact Our Helpful DuPage County Family Law Attorneys

If you are about to get divorced, you will need to collaborate with a knowledgeable divorce attorney to help you reach the outcome you desire. Contact the knowledgeable Lombard divorce lawyers at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices for help with your divorce case. Reach out to us today at 630-932-9100 to set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.wakefieldresearch.com/blog/2017/05/10/new-wakefield-research-study-trump-effect-american-relationships

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/resolution-not-conflict/201610/are-political-differences-straining-your-relationships