We can all accept that a high-stress job might negatively affect a spousal relationship. Indeed, various studies on the link between divorce rates and occupation show that some jobs cancause a higher risk of divorce.
A study by the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology found that fish and game wardens split with their spouses at a rate of 25.5%- 9% more than another role. Perhaps the power trip from protecting wildlife does not translate well in the domestic world and is best kept outdoors!
Within the top 10 occupations with high divorce rates are telephone operators; a day of uncertain tempered responses, shrill telephone rings and premature hang-ups apparently takes their toll on people’s patience and could evoke a snappy spouse outside of the workplace.
Surprisingly, marriage therapists are reported to have a 38.2% divorce rate; one of the highest. Possibly it is an example of the profession attracting people who recognise the problems.
Psychiatric nurses and home health aids adopt the important yet challenging roles of caring for those with physical or mental impairment. Such roles demand patience, commitment and understanding, and workers face emotionally draining days which are never the same. Whilst the pressure is on in work, perhaps any added pressure at home is too much.
Those with high-powered, high-income roles often exchange their marital happiness for money and work-place power. On the rare evenings they do see their families, they are emotionally and mentally exhausted, and have no capacity for more pressure. The energy consumed by such a high-stress job means less energy in working on their marriage, less patience and less quality time with their spouse. For those accustomed to having control, it can be a struggle to compromise with their partner, and such frustrations and feelings of lack of trust often lead to separation.
The highest divorce rate, however, is between dancers and choreographers. These creative types find the intimacy with fellow dance partners, lycra outfits and intense roles too much to stay faithful. Maybe for similar reasons, bar tenders have a high divorce rate of 37.4%.
These statistics prove that neglecting your marriage due to prioritising other areas of your life is a high risk exercise.