Arizona Family Law Blog

There are a number of factors that can lead to divorce. Infidelity and drug problems have frequently received blame for divorces throughout the last few decades. However, there is a new factor that could lead to an increase in divorce, and it is video games. More specifically, the popular video game Fortnite has received blame for contributing to divorces this past year.

Arizona is a no-fault state for divorce. That means a couple does not necessarily need a reason to separate. They can merely claim they have grown apart. One way people can grow apart is if one dedicates all of his or her time and energy on playing a video game the other spouse does not enjoy, which can be the case with Fortnite. 

Experts say that divorce may be on the rise for people who are 50 and older because women are no longer as dependent on men financially, people's expectations for marriage have changed and people are living longer. However, older adults in Arizona who divorce might also be putting themselves at risk for various health problems along with financial problems and social isolation.

The stress of divorce can make some medical conditions worse, particularly those that are more common among older adults such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Older people may be at risk for depression and anxiety, and they might try to cope with unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, overspending or misusing alcohol. Since women often are in charge of maintaining social ties in a relationship, men are at greater risk of isolation after a divorce while women are at greater risk of financial hardship.

Although the number of total U.S. marriages that end in divorce is consistently around 50 percent, there has been a slight decrease in that trend overall in recent years. When one looks at the marriages of people over age 50, however, the statistics tell a different story. Since 1990, half of all marriages for those over age 50 end in divorce. For those over age 65, divorce rates have tripled.

Many lay observers find these numbers difficult to fathom, wondering how things could go wrong in a marriage so late in the couple's life. People who were previously married, some more than once, and others whose first marriage came later in life are included in these overall totals. The majority of gray divorces are simply couples who, despite years together, came to the point where they decided it was better to go their separate ways, primarily because they were no longer happy together.

When couples in Arizona decide to marry, the last thing that may occupy their mind is how their wedding date could be related to their future happiness. Couples select wedding dates for a wide range of reasons. Sometimes, they select a particular date that is important or sentimental for the couple. At other times, couples choose a time and date that is most convenient for family or that offers a discount at the wedding venue. Others may choose a holiday or other special occasion. According to one study conducted at the University of Melbourne, there is a correlation between certain wedding date selections and a couple's later likelihood of divorce.

When analyzing the marriage and divorce records of a million couples, the researchers found that Valentine's Day weddings taking place on Feb. 14 were most strongly associated with a higher divorce rate. Within five years after the wedding, 11 percent of couples married on the holiday are divorced. Within nine years, 21 percent had chosen to end their marriages. According to the study, Valentine's Day was not the only day linked to a higher divorce rate: Other "special number days" like Sept. 9, 1999, were also correlated with a greater likelihood of a split.