Spouses may file for divorce in Virginia because of irreconcilable differences, but that can cover a wide variety of issues. Empty nest syndrome could play a significant role in a marriage’s breakdown. This underlying cause might be more common than many realize.
The empty nest-driven divorce
Empty nest syndrome refers to parents finding their marriage collapsing after their children grow up and leave the household. Sometimes, problems develop rapidly after the children depart. However, it is not uncommon for the marriage to suffer problems for years, with friction becoming significantly pronounced when the children leave home.
Children could help stabilize a marriage. When the children are no longer there, the stabilizing factor disappears. Spouses may find they have little in common with one another, and wedges in the relationship emerge or widen. The situation may deteriorate to where the spouses seek a divorce.
Household and relationship troubles
As children age, so do their parents. Older persons may have a focus on retirement planning as they age. When children leave home, some parents may shift to other pursuits, including financial ones. One spouse could become uncomfortable with a partner’s financial risk-taking, and troubles in the marriage develop. Debt situations and other fiscal concerns could compound such issues.
Focusing on the children may alleviate problems between the spouses. That might end when the children move away from home. Spouses whose lives diverge or undergo significant personal transformations may no longer have a strong marriage. If arguments become commonplace, the marriage could become untenable for one or both parties. Divorce may become unavoidable in such situations.