Ever wondered why some couples choose to stay together in their unhappy relationship? Maybe right now, you are in a relationship even though you are unhappy, but you just can’t seem to do anything about it. In this article, we will show you the 5 most common reasons why unhappy couples stay together.

1. Staying Together for Kids

Often, couples stay together to see children through school and break up shortly after they’ve flown the nest. One of the biggest decisions unhappy parents face is deciding whether staying together benefits their children or hurts them. We tend to think that staying together is the best choice, but kids sense when parents are unhappy in marriage.

2. Afraid to be alone

When you’ve been with someone for a few years, you almost forgot how to be alone. You did everything with the other person, so doing things on your own now is not something you know how to do. Instead of divorcing, most people stay in an unhappy marriage because they fear the idea of being alone.

3. Maintaining Status and Wealth

Couples often shy away from marital issues to maintain their status. In a world of keeping up with the Joneses, and when your friends and family’s relationships seem trouble-free, it takes a tough person to turn their back on the house, the car, and annual luxury holidays. Investment theory explains how people stay in a relationship to protect their resources. They would only leave for a better partner, infidelity, or another serious issue that they can’t ignore. Research shows that people would stay with a trustworthy partner over an attractive one. However, they would leave a trustworthy partner over a wealthier partner.

4. Social Embarrassment or Shame

Some people cannot separate themselves from their partner because they listen too much to what others say. They fear others will talk about their divorce and choose to live in an unhappy marriage rather than deal with potential social embarrassment. Unfortunately, until they learn not to care about what others say, they will continue to be dissatisfied.

5. Lifestyle or Habit

Some people are attached to their lifestyle or habits. No matter how difficult their partner might be, they prefer their current way of life over the uncertainties of divorce. Some people, surprisingly, get accustomed to unhappiness and complaining. They have given up on trying to improve the situation but don’t want to get divorced because they are used to feeling this way.