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Raising children, changing schedules, geographical distance… There are many reasons for separation. However, a study reveals that it is often intimate life that leads couples to separate.
According to a new study conducted on behalf of Coopleo.carea platform for connecting with relationship professionals, the majority of French people separate from their spouse because of a problematic intimate life.
60% of French people believe that their separation is due to their intimate life
For this study, conducted by the Koréis firm with the help of a committee made up of researchers and professionals, 1,052 French people – aged 43.5 on average – were recruited.
The majority of them have few qualifications (69% of people have a Bac+2 level or less) and 85% of those recruited say they are in a relationship, to which are added single parents who are in a relationship again.
40% of candidates also claim to have already experienced separation: widowhood, divorce, breakup of a civil partnership, breakup with a long-term life together, with children or plans to have children. Among these 40%, 20% have experienced a divorce and 17% a breakup after a serious relationship.
Interesting facts: the average age of separation is 33 and two-thirds of separations were amicable (without legal proceedings or mediation).
Thanks to the collection of this data, an analysis could be carried out; allowing 4 scores to be established.
- A score of the quality of the relationship;
- A score of the ability to work on the relationship;
- A score of distance from external support;
- A score of brakes on support.
Result? By taking into account these scores and certain variables (socio-professional categories of the household, intensity of professional life, life path (accidents of life)…) the researchers noticed that the intimate life (conflict, sexual difficulties, infidelity…) of the respondents most often precipitated the couple towards separation.
A fact proven and confirmed by 60% of participants.
The next main reasons for breaking up are managing daily life (41%), followed by questions about parenthood, such as raising children (26%) and professional life (15%).
Separation: a painful life experience… and lasting consequences
Another major conclusion of the study: the French seem to be having a hard time coping with the ordeal of separation.
Indeed, to the question “What memory do you have of the moment of separation?19% of candidates answered that it was “extremely difficult for them” (score of 10, on a scale of 1 to 10).
In the short term, the study also reveals that candidates suffer from a deterioration in their mental health (40%), a lack of trust in others (38%) and a reduced personal well-being (36%). Everyone’s standard of living is also significantly affected.
Consequences which, although they may diminish over time, do not disappear completely.
“Indeed, in 2018, INSEE noted that divorce caused a loss of standard of living of 22% for women compared to 3% for men, and in 2017, that 33.6% of single-parent families lived below the poverty line, families made up of 82% single mothers with children.“, the press release reveals.
For all these reasons, most French people questioned in this study (76%) think that they should be supported at one or more stages of their life.
17% of candidates even think that the separation could have been avoided if they had been “better prepared for life together“.
Finally, with regard to the causes of separation, “70% of participants see the support as useful in the event of difficulties in their private life (57%), conflicts relating to the education of children (54%), daily management (37%) and professional life (30%).“, conclude the experts of the study.
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