Couples should put more effort into their marriage just before March and August each year. Sociologists have identified spikes in the number of divorces in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. between 2001 and 2015. The scientists found that over this 14-year period, divorce rates peaked in August, after the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be because of money problems caused by the winter and summer holidays.
Researcher Julie Brines suggested that couples felt stressed and down when the excitement of holidays was over. She said: "People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It's like an optimism cycle." Couples usually spend more time together during holidays. This may actually make tensions worse rather than bring people closer together.
