April, 16, 2013, Lansing, MI- Not all marriages last, that’s a fact, but that doesn’t keep researchers from trying to unlock the secrets of why marriages fail and what effects it has on both adults and children. While the reasons people find themselves in failing marriages are various and complex, a new study suggests that overuse of social media among married couples can cause dissatisfaction within their marriages.
While many researchers will agree that communication and intimacy, the study conducted by Oxford University Institute suggests that there is such a thing as too much communication, especially if it is conducted over five or more social media platforms, which can include email, text messaging, Facebook, Twitter and other social sharing sites.
The goal of the research was to “to see if these more diverse communications channels strengthened relationship ties in the digital era,” Dr. Bernie Hogan of Oxford University told the Daily Mail.
Researchers monitored the social media interactions of 24,000 couples over a period of seven years. They discovered that married couples who interact over multiple media channels can make their relationships stronger. But there is a downside; the research suggests that 14 percent of the couples surveyed who interacted over five or more of these platforms expressed dissatisfaction with their marriages.
As Dr. Hogan Explained to the Daily Mail, “Using these media is great in moderation. But more is not necessarily better. We need to walk back from the idea that more communication by more media is a good thing.”
Adding, “It’s important to be accessible without being overbearing.”
Overbearing appears to be a deal breaker for many couples, especially if it involves a spouse or in-laws. A University of Michigan study from last fall found that when women had a good relationship with her in-laws, her marriage was 20 percent more likely to end in divorce.
That’s because for the majority of women place a high importance on their role of wife and mother. Close relationships with the in-laws can sometimes lead to meddling or interference, which can lead to resentment among women and can drive a wedge in their marriage.
Psychologist and professor at the University of Michigan Terri Orbuch says it’s form a woman to have a strong relationship with their in-laws, but cautioned that parents should avoid being overbearing or telling their daughter-in-laws how to raise their children or how to be a good wife.
The reverse is true for men, the same study found when men have a strong relationship with their in-laws their marriages were less likely to end in divorce.
Although, Michigan enjoys a relatively low divorce rate, an estimated 6.9 percent according to the Michigan Department of Community Health, it is inevitable a couples may find they are no longer compatible, and need the guidance of an experienced divorce attorney who will take their concerns seriously.
Attorney Stu Shafer of Lansing has assisted many couples with their divorce by successfully negotiating, either through mediation or trial, agreeable settlements and satisfactory custody arrangements.
