If you are like many people in Southern California, you face long and grueling commutes to and from your job every day.  It’s not uncommon for people to spend hundreds of hours per year sitting in traffic on a daily basis.  Most people understand that this lifestyle comes with a price, but according to a study that was recently completed in Sweden, these commutes could be putting a strain on your marriage to the point where your risk for divorce is higher than it would be otherwise.

According to researchers at Sweden's Umeå University, people who deal with long commutes every day face a 40 percent higher risk for divorce than those who do not deal with this type of mind-numbing travel.  Specifically, the researchers tracked families who had at least one person whose commute was 45 minutes or longer each way to and from work, and these results were recorded over time and compared to couples who did not have to handle this type of drive time.  This percentage of increased risk was surprising to many who reviewed the study.

Theories have already begun to be offered with regards to this finding, and many of them are tied to the harm that’s already been associated with people who face a daily commute of this length or longer.  This harm includes health problems such as high cholesterol, back and neck problems and higher stress levels.  More than 3 million workers in the United States alone face travel times of more than 90 minutes each way to and from work on a daily basis.

Carlsbad Divorce Mediation Lawyers

Clearly, it’s possible to remain in a happy marriage if you face a long commute in order to reach your place of employment.  However, if you notice that your marriage may be struggling a bit because of a lack of time with your family or because of your stress related to this lifestyle, it may be advisable to communicate clearly with your spouse.  Unfortunately, not all marriages can be repaired that have already suffered damage.

If you face the possibility of divorce, you should take steps to explore options that will minimize the additional stress you will face.  Seek the help of Carlsbad divorce mediation lawyers who have helped many couples work through this process and move on with their lives successfully.  Contact Zonder Family Law today to schedule an initial consultation.