It might sound like relationships are all rainbows and butterflies but more than often that is not the case.
Relationships can be as comforting and soothing as the shade of a tree on a sunny day. But, this comfort can only be achieved by those who have a stable, non-toxic, and loving relationship. With this said, let’s find out more about how long do relationships last on average, what percentage of relationships fail, more relationship statistics, and an insight into why relationships fail.
Table of Contents
Relationships and Happiness
Relationships can be the source of a lot of happiness and comfort but a lot of people don’t get to experience these feelings and sensations for a longer amount of time. The reason behind this lack of happiness derived from relationships is that a lot of such bonds collapse sometime after they are created. From a happy, content, and peaceful relationship one will be able to curate life and a future which is bound to be satisfying with a partner.
Percentage of Relationships Failing
Not to make this sound bleak, but a lot of relationships don’t survive their course and end up getting disrupted in the middle. The statistics on relationships lasting mainly depend on the age group and the issues of that group of people. The one question that keeps coming up is how long do relationships last on average? To answer this, the usual lifespan of relationships right now is somewhere in the vicinity of 2.5 to 3 years. This means that teens and adults both have been known to have relationships that usually just last as much as this period.
What Percentage Of Couples Split Up?
Couples tend to have a short-lived lifespan. One should not think that marriages equate to a long term relationship. To answer the question about what percent of couples split up, around 40%-50% of couples end up going through a divorce.
The statistics on relationships lasting tend to go down after a specific period of time because even married couples tend to face hurdles. These hurdles can range from serious issues such as infidelity and commitment issues to smaller problems that when piled up can make one want to quit.
One more thing to note is that this percentage of split up is not focused just on married couples but on unmarried couples as well. Those who choose to stay in a relationship without getting hitched tend to break up 40%-50% of the time as well. Lack of communication, empathy, and consideration, and empathy are some of the few basic elements that play a large role in destroying the foundation of long term relationships.
What Percentage Of Teenage Relationships Fail?
Teenage relationships are said to be the most vulnerable because of the nature of the people involved. Since teens are going through an evolving path in their lives, sustaining long term relationships turns out to be extremely difficult for them. It is known that about 2 percent of teen relationships survive and end up in marriage. This is the lowest number in statistics on relationships lasting.
There are tons of reasons behind the drastically low percentage of teenage relationships lasting.
- First and foremost, teens usually start dating by the age of 15. In this time of one’s life, people are usually learning new things and seeing the world through a wider perspective. In this newer and fresh lens to view the world, teenagers often tend to form new principles, values, and morals based on where they see their life going in the near future. A lot of times while people are changing and learning more about themselves, they don’t have the mental capacity to take someone along with them on this trip of self-discovery.
- Discovering yourself with someone by your side can be quite challenging as one would have to take both sides of life in their view while making bigger decisions.
- Also, at the age of 15 teenagers have usually just entered high school. This means they have four years to navigate life as a high school student and then they have to move on to the next part of their life. This next part is college. Since colleges are in various parts all over the world, it gets quite challenging for teenagers to maintain long term relationships.
- Colleges also give individuals more exposure to the rest of the world. They are shown a world outside of the bubble they used to live in back in high school. This exposure means meeting new people and one might end up finding someone they have a better understanding with.
- Lastly, even though there are tons of reasons, a huge reason why teenagers fail to maintain long term and healthy relationships is that they don’t have good examples set for them. Even if parents have had a rocky experience with relationships, they don’t provide their children with sufficient guidance for this phase of life.
- There are many tricky roads that one might have to navigate whilst in a relationship and any sort of guidance from elders can be beneficial for them in the long run. These are some of the major aspects of why the relationship statistics for teenagers seem so low.
Why Do Relationships Fail?
We understand that strong, enduring relationships can significantly benefit both the body and the soul. When individuals are in stable, empathetic partnerships, they are much more likely to feel content and at peace with their lives. Conversely, disturbances in life, particularly in relationships, can cause substantial harm, both physically and mentally. For someone trapped in a toxic relationship, the stress can manifest physically in various ways, such as skin breakouts, and the mental toll can be overwhelming.
Maintaining a healthy relationship is crucial, and one way to prevent your relationship from deteriorating is to consciously avoid introducing negative elements into it. Below, we will explore several factors that contribute to the breakdown of relationships, offering insights into how to prevent them.
1. Infidelity
Infidelity is one of the most important elements that can break relationships in a matter of a few seconds. With such a huge obstacle, couples tend to rarely pass through problems and sustain the relationship. According to relationship statistics, just 16% of couples can work out their issues after an affair from either side. People who have extreme commitment issues are the first ones who jump in the bandwagon of infidelity.
2. Commitment Issues
Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. At the start of every relationship, things usually go pretty smoothly. The complications come up after a while of the two people being together, these complications aren’t necessarily bad though. Starting from not being able to find time to see each other to other minor issues, if communication is not considered essential then things might be going downhill.
3. Trust Issues
Trust issues need to be tackled and eradicated as soon as they start taking place. More than often, trust issues stem from other personal traumas and should be addressed before these issues sabotage any further relationships. Suspecting your partner of doing something they didn’t, constantly targeting them, and making them explain themselves can get tiresome. It is important not to test your partner’s limits and bring them to a point where they try to get away from you.
4. Selfishness
Selfishness and narcissism go hand in hand. Making the relationship entirely about yourself and not giving the other person the space to breathe and be themselves can be damaging. One should always realize that a relationship has TWO people in it. Narcissists also tend to make the other person feel like they are wrong. Forcing their opinions down their partner’s throat and making the relationship about themselves can drain the other person and make them want to quit.
5. Addiction Issues
Addiction has damaged thousands and thousands of relationships all over the world. The problem with addiction is that even though it does not involve both parties directly, it can still be extremely damaging to whoever has to pick up the mess. Addiction is not just limited to drug use, but gambling and sexual habits as well. Gambling comes with lying, cheating, manipulation, abuse both physical and mental, and is more than often the last nail in the coffin.
