DEBT AS MARITAL PROBLEMS


 


Introduction


 


            When considering or defining the concept of marriage, people in the
West would tend to think of it as a union between two people who love
each other and have decided to spend the rest of their lives together.
It is a relationship that implies a choice, dedication and compromise.
The wedding itself is focused mainly on the bride and groom, it is
perceived as a personal ceremony, in which the two people exchange
vows. Another definition of marriage states that it is a union between a man and a woman such that children born to the woman are the recognized legitimate offspring of both partners.


 


Marriage and family life are undergoing perhaps the most far-reaching processes of change they have ever known. This is in part the result of a wide and complex array of social changes, but also because of a reappraisal of the meaning of marriage and consequent changes in expectations of it. To these social, economic, and interpersonal factors, and their contribution to the creation of problems in marriage, must be added the intrapersonal factors that have always been important in influencing the marital relationship.


 


            In the United States marital problems sometimes lead to divorce. During the past several decades, people all over the world have expressed astonishment and disbelief concerning the spread of divorce in the United States. Americans in particular have examined divorce from every angle, often reproaching themselves and their tension-laden, urban, industrial society for making divorce a widespread American phenomenon. The historical record, however, indicates that contemporary American divorce is more than a recent outgrowth of a troubled modern society.


 


One of the considered causes of marital problems in the United States is about financial problems, more specifically debt.  Hence, the goal of this paper is to explore the nature of evidence about marital problems because of debt.


 


Debt into Marriage


 


            Studies investigated marital disagreements by ascertaining the main things about which their respondents disagreed, as well as testing relationships. The areas of disagreement listed were money, children, recreation, personality, in-laws, roles, religion, and politics. Financial problems were found to be the most common category of disagreement.


 


As mentioned above, debt brought into marriage can be considered as one of the causes of marital problems.  According to the  for  (2000), debt is the number one marital problems encountered by couples, specifically newlyweds (2003).  


 


The result of the study shows that 67% of women and 74% of males enter marriage with at least some debt. And since participant was told not to consider home loans, debt was reported to principally come from credit cards, student loans, auto loans, and medical bills.  Being attached to debt is a big accountability to take on and in some incidents is so unappealing that the debt may functions as an “anti-dowry” (2002).


 


Negative Impact of Debt in Marital Relationships


 


             Studies often indicate that marriages are most vulnerable during the first few years. Further, it also shows that 20% of divorces in the United States occur within the first five years of marriage ( 2001). With these occurrences financial matters or money is one of the issues couples fight about most often during the early years of marriage.


 


Consequently, it has been identified that money was the most frequently reported problems that couples argue about (2002) and for both the husband and wife, such disagreement over financial matters were considered as a significant predictors of desired divorce ( 2001).


 


            One factors of partners financial condition which may lead to marital distress is the amount of debt each couple bring into the marriage.  Different textual evidences have tried to determine the relationship between divorce and financial problems ( 1997). There are some researches which associate one of financial problems (debt) with regards to divorce (2001). 


 


Different studies show that debt into marriage has much negative impact on marital relationships, and can be considered as a particularly complex issue for couples.  It is important to note that most of the newlyweds are facing financial problems because of debts.


 


One of the negative effects of debts on a marital relationship is it can cause marital stress.  Accordingly, it is estimated that 80% of the American adults spends their time on earning, spending or perhaps thinking about money or financial matters ( 2002). Such time is considered to be longer that the time used in focusing on other issues.  Hence, debt can cause strain or tension on couples because it pushes them to spend their time and energy on money rather than building and establishing their marriage life.


 


            It is said that the financial problems of couples, specifically debt are associated to increased levels of conflicts, stress, and marital pressure which reduces the level of marital satisfaction or fulfillment (2000). Such financial complexities are frequently noted as one of the major reason for couples engaging in divorce.


 


In a study conducted by  and his colleague in 1995, it shows that a personal coping strategy is crucial for married couples encountering financial stress like overwhelming debt. Herein, partners must have enough self-mastery to control the money spent and make important life changes.  Furthermore, couples must also have enough self-esteem in order to handle financial problems and burdensome debt.


 


            In a study conducted by  (2003), 66% if 21, 501 respondents indicate that complexities attributed with major debt was one of the top five hindrances in a satisfying marriage.  The study also found out that one of the unique strengths of happy and satisfied couples was that they do not engage in major debt problems.


 


            In addition,  (2002), discovered that indebtedness had been a vital aspect in many college graduate’s decision to postpone marriage because that perceived that starting martial relationship with huge amount of debt may be a cause of great strain on their married life and may have a tendency to put the relationship in jeopardy from the start.


 


Conclusion


           


            There is no doubt that marital conflict existed in colonial America. Divorce has been legalized in the United States as way of solving unhappy marriage.  For some, divorce is a good mechanism to be separated to a partner who has not satisfied your married life.


 


Involving into marriage means that you have to take all the responsibilities of your partner as your own responsibilities and living your life with someone for the rest of your life.  It is said that marriage are attached with many difficulties in which individual must consider.  Marital breakdown is common nowadays in the United States.  It is noted that most of the Americans considered divorce as a way of coping with their problems.  One of the most noted problems in the marriage life among Americans is with regards to financial problems, specifically debt.


            Analysis shows that the amount of debt brought by male and female into marriage have negative effect on their marital relationship, the bigger the debt, the bigger the problem to be solved.  And if both partners could not handle the situation, both decide to be engaged in divorce.


 


            Different studies have shown how debt affects marital relationship and how this leads to divorce.  It is said that the most affected are those newlyweds, that, instead of thinking of how to establish a good marriage their time is spent on thinking how to solve their financial problems.


 


            With this, it is recommended that before an individual will enter into marriage, he or she must be financially and emotionally stable.  Such stability will help them avoid financial problems and may save their marriage to last as they promise.


 


            All in all, it can be said that debt is truly one of the reasons why most American couples, specifically the newlyweds ends in divorce or separation.  The inability of both husbands and wife to handle debt and other financial problems may lead to marital problems and strains which may result in engaging a divorce.


 


 



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