If you examine divorce rates and compare them to the age at which couples got married, clear trends emerge. For instance, those who marry at a young age, such as 18 or 19, tend to have some of the highest divorce rates. The risk of divorce then consistently decreases each year until around age 32, after which it starts to rise again.
This pattern clearly demonstrates that young marriages carry a higher risk of ending in divorce. But why is this the case?
Financial stress
One factor is that young couples often face more financial stress than those who marry later in life. For example, if someone marries at 18, they may only have a high school diploma. Both partners are likely to have low-paying jobs and may struggle to make ends meet. By contrast, a couple who marries at 38 years old may have college degrees and years of experience in their careers, leading to higher salaries and greater financial stability.
Changing over time
It’s not just about finances, however. Young individuals are still growing and changing significantly, even though they are legal adults. For instance, the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain involved in decision-making and impulse control—doesn’t finish developing until around age 26. A couple who marries at 18 may find that, 10 years later, they’ve grown into much different people, and their relationship no longer functions as it once did.
This doesn’t mean that all young marriages will end in divorce, but it does highlight the elevated risks. Couples should be aware of these challenges and understand the legal steps to take if their marriage does come to an end.