There has been a lot of debate by experts and non experts alike over whether or not there is such as thing as the seven-year itch, in which married people are likely to pursue an extra-marital affair and infidelity. Numerous studies have been done about this phenomena. Here is what people are saying.
Being stuck in a rut can lead to the seven year itch. A study in India checked with couples at different years of their marriages. They found the biggest decline in marital satisfaction from couples who expressed concern about being stuck in a rut several years earlier.
The journal, Developmental Psychology, published an article resulted from a study that looked at marital quality during the first ten years of marriage. The study showed that while a decline occurs during the very early years of marriage (after the honeymoon period), there is a second decline that takes place in year eight (after seven years of marriage). The researchers concluded that the stress of raising older children at that point in marriage contributed to the decline.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, most divorces happen after eight years of marriage (the eight-year itch, or does it take a whole year to do through the infidelity issue and then the divorce?). Could this be the result of a seven year itch?
Personally, I don’t know what to think about the seven year itch. This year will be my ninth anniversary with my wonderful husband, and the only itch we seem to have is to spend more time with each other around the demands of work, kids and a house that needs constant fixing.
Do you think there is a seven year itch? If so, why do you think it occurs and what can you do about it?
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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