Couples Who Argue about Money More Likely to Divorce

Early financial arguments between romantic partners are a reliable predictor of future divorce, according to a new study from Kansas State University.

Sonya Britt, assistant professor of family studies and human services and program director of personal financial planning at Kansas State, said that arguments about money are "by far" the top predictor of divorce.

"It's not children, sex, in-laws or anything else," she said. "It's money -- for both men and women."

To reach her conclusions, Britt used data from more than 4,500 couples collected by the National Survey of Families and Households.

"In the study, we controlled for income, debt and net worth," Britt said. "Results revealed it didn't matter how much you made or how much you were worth. Arguments about money are the top predictor for divorce because it happens at all levels."

According to Britt, it takes longer for a couple arguing over money to recover from the dispute and that couples also use harsher language during arguments about money than with other topics.

"You can measure people's money arguments when they are very first married," Britt said. "It doesn't matter how long ago it was, but when they were first together and already arguing about money, there is a good chance they are going to have poor relationship satisfaction."

Britt added that relationship satisfaction will continue to decrease as financial arguments continue, and that even if divorce is not a possibility because of low income, the low relationship satisfaction could make things worse. Increased stress, Britt added, adds to further decreases in attempts to make a financial plan.

"We, as financial planners, can help clients reduce their stress through education," Britt said. "This is important because people who are stressed are very short-term focused. They don't plan for the future. If you can reduce stress, you can increase planning."

Britt advises new couples to incorporate financial planning as part of any premarital game plan.

"If the money is not being treated fairly in the household, then the relationship satisfaction is going to be lower," she said.

Britt's research is published in the interdisciplinary journal Family Relations.