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Largest share of divorces and annulments in S’pore is among those wed for between 5 and 10 years

2023-07-28 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - The seven-year itch is real, going by divorce statistics which showed that the highest proportion of break-ups came between the fifth and 10th years of marriage.

The seven-year itch is a phrase that refers to the time when people become bored or dissatisfied with their marriage, typically around the seven-year mark.

A total of 9.6 per cent of Singapore resident couples – referring to couples where at least one party is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident – who wed in 2001 ended their marriage between the fifth and before the 10th wedding anniversary.

Those wed for less than five years formed the second-largest group when it comes to marriage dissolution rates. A marriage can be dissolved through divorce or annulment.

Some 6.4 per cent of resident couples who wed in 2001 parted ways before they celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary.

With each subsequent five-yearly milestone from the 10th wedding anniversary, the increase in dissolution rates was smaller, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The MSF issued its statement after the Department of Statistics (DOS) released the Statistics on Marriages and Divorces 2022 on Wednesday morning.

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This is the first time the annual statistics on marriages and divorces contain data on the marriage cohort dissolution rate.

A DOS spokesman told The Straits Times it included the marriage cohort dissolution data as it complements the marriage and divorce data, providing a more comprehensive picture on marriages that end in divorce or annulment.

Ms Theresa Pong, counsellor director at the Relationship Room, said there are research findings to support the seven-year itch.

For instance, Dr John Gottman, a psychologist, found that unhappy couples take an average of six years before they decide to seek help.

Said Ms Pong: “Sadly, these six years are generally filled with conflicts, unhappiness and perhaps issues involving trust. By the time couples realise that they need help, it would take a much longer period and effort to heal from the pain they have experienced.

“Unfortunately, many would choose to give up on their marriages, as they feel it would take too much to heal.”

Ms June Yong, who heads the research and editorial team at Focus on the Family Singapore, said couples usually settle into their roles and routines during the first two to three years of marriage.

Some have children during this time. In the next three to five years, they find they have a lot more to juggle – from career to children to finances.

Ms Yong said: “Challenges and conflicts may arise, as life transitions and the pursuit of other life goals introduce more changes to the marriage.

“If the marital foundation – along with the skills of communication, teamwork and conflict resolution – is not strong, couples may drift apart, and the house can begin to crumble.

“Hence, it is important to grow together in marriage and stay connected to each other.”