The Seven Year Itch Is Still Around
The median age of separation for U.S. marriages is seven years, with divorce happening after around 8 years of marriage.

October 13, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Seven Year Itch Is Still Around

Marriages That End in Divorce More Likely to Begin At Seven-Year Mark

The phrase "Seven Year Itch" was first coined in the 1952 play of the same name and made famous in the movie adaptation starring Marilyn Monroe, who tempts a married man of seven years by, among other things, standing on an air vent in a billowing white skirt. While certainly much about 1950s living arrangements have changed, the 2010 U.S. census revealed that marriages are still more likely to encounter significant trouble around the seven year mark. The median age of separation for U.S. marriages is seven years, with divorce happening after around 8 years of marriage. This is true for both first and second marriages that end in divorce.

Why do people who divorce call it quits after seven years? The 1950s movie focused on infidelity, but marriages end for a variety of reasons. Financial stress, job responsibilities, raising children and simply acknowledging that problems in the marriage will not get resolved can all prompt separation and divorce after seven years. Anthony Centore, the director of Thrive Boston Counseling and Psychotherapy, told the Boston Globe that due to the pressures facing some marriages it is a "miracle they last seven years."

The length of marriages ending in divorce is one of the few things that has not changed since the 1950s. As one example, marriages are beginning later, with women waiting until 26 to marry and men waiting until 28. Regional differences are significant, however, with people in northern states more likely to wait to get married; one reason, perhaps, that more divorces occur in southern states.

Divorce Considerations

Some marriages are vulnerable right from the beginning. About one in every 10 marriages will end in divorce in the first five years. However, certain financial considerations brought about by the Great Recession may be extending marriages that would otherwise have divorced. If the couple has children, for example, and it would be difficult to find a housing situation similar to the couples' existing home, the couple may delay divorce until economic conditions improve.

A family law attorney can explain the divorce process to those considering whether it is the right option for them. The many financial considerations and family circumstances surrounding a divorce make obtaining an experienced divorce lawyer essential to maintaining a similar living situation post-divorce.

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