Based on a 20 year study at the University of Denver, financed by the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Science Foundation the following factors are said to influence divorce and/or marital distress.

Unchangeable factors include

Some personalities such as males who are impulsive and males and females who overreact to stress.

Parental divorce when they were children often results in a partner’s diminished confidence in their ability to make a marriage work and self-perpetuating communication deficits.

Cohabitation History increases the likelihood for divorce and/or unhappiness. This may be due to couples, who live together first, placing less value on the state of marriage.

Previous Divorce. Researchers suggest that this factor may be changing in the next decade.

Religious Dissimilarity. Even though at the time of marriage, having different religious beliefs doesn’t seem negative, usually when children are born, it becomes an issue.

Young Age at Marriage is one of the most potent predictors of marriage failure.

Economic Status – Lower economic status creates greater risk. This is probably due to increased stress.

The factors that can be changed after the couple marries, but if unchanged predict marriage failure are

Dangerous Interaction Styles –

Communication Skills – Since handling conflict well is essential to marriage success, communicating well is critical to handling conflict well. Successful couples must learn to be good speakers as well as good listeners. Good speakers talk about their feelings, thoughts and concerns in a clear, concise and non-threatening way. They stop to make sure that the partner understands. Partners who are good listeners make sure they understand what was said before giving their response. They don’t interrupt or complete the other’s sentences. They are truly focused on hearing what is said and meant, before offering a response.

Methods of Conflict Management – Successful partners to not allow arguing to escalate into destructive fighting. Both agree to take a time out until the discussion can be constructive. They are both committed to becoming better listeners and better speakers and practice these skills when in conflict. They set up weekly meetings to discuss important as well as difficult issues. They agree to have fun and enjoy their friendship and protect these times from conflict.

Physical Aggression – Pushing, shoving and hitting is often the outgrowth of escalating conflict and inability to withdraw and take a time out until the discussion can be constructive. This cycle can be stopped and must be addressed the first time it happens. Marital happiness and success cannot withstand continued aggression

Dysfunctional Attitudes such as believing that "Love conquers all"; my mate will change"; "if you love me, you will make me happy"; "good marriages just happen. We don’t have to work at it"; "If you love me, I shouldn’t have to ask for what I need."

Commitment and Dedication – Commitment is the glue that holds successful relationships together. Researchers found that those partners who entered marriage dedicated to not just continue it, but improve it, sacrifice for it, invest in it, link personal goals to it and seek the partner’s welfare, not simply their own found success. Those who viewed commitment as an obligation, to stay whether or not there was happiness, often were unsuccessful.