According to research from Relate, one in 10 couples consider divorce at some point as everyday stresses take their toll on relationships.
While not every couple who consider divorce actually end up going through with it, many end up drifting towards divorce when relationships could have been saved. The research includes both married and co-habiting couples. Overall the findings suggest that 1.4 million families are already at their breaking point.
The most common problems triggering thoughts of divorce include the stress of parenting and financial pressures. The latter has been a major issue in recent years as people have struggled following the recent recession and the knock-on effect this has had on family finances.
The ultimate decision on whether or not to divorce depends a lot on individual circumstances and the reasons given. Often marital difficulties can be sorted out with counselling. Couples have the opportunity to seek help before differences become entrenched and there is little hope of saving the marriage.
It is also important to consider the wellbeing of children who can suffer just as much from being caught in the middle of conflict in a relationship as they would if their parents were to divorce.