Your work schedule can have an impact on your marriage. One study has discovered that a long commute could increase the odds that you get divorced.
The study considered couples where one spouse had a commute that was over 45 minutes long. It found that those couples had a 40% higher chance of going through a divorce.
Interestingly, it also depends on how long the couple has been living with that commute. The divorce odds were greatest when the change was relatively recent. But for couples who had already spent at least five years managing that commute, their divorce odds were only 1% higher. This seems to suggest that some couples do get used to it over time and it is not a problem, but that the change can be too much for others.
Time away from the relationship
The biggest issue with a long commute is that it often means that couples simply have less time to spend together. This could especially be problematic for couples who have young children. One person may end up feeling like they spend all of their time parenting and that their spouse simply is not present.
Often, couples justify a longer commute because they are earning a higher wage. But the study demonstrated that this did not actually increase marital happiness. The downsides of the commute outweighed the potential benefits of earning slightly more money.
Naturally, every relationship is unique. As the study showed, some couples find a way to make this work. But for those who do find themselves moving toward divorce, it is important to know what legal steps to take.