Couples might want to put a little extra effort their marriage just March and August every year. Sociologists have identified annual spikes the number of divorces filed in these two months. Researchers the University of Washington analysed data divorces filed in the U.S. state of Washington 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed the state in 2014 alone. The scientists found that the 14-year period of the study, divorce rates peaked in August, the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be due financial problems caused the winter and summer holidays.
Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the anti-climax felt the build-up to holidays, and the holidays themselves, may leave couples feeling stressed and deflated. She said: "People tend to face the holidays rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had years past." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition a new period of life. It's like an optimism cycle." Couples generally spend more time closer proximity each other during holidays, which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than rekindle romance.
