20 Common Reasons For Relationship Break-Ups

Relationship › Navigating Challenges › Let Go Lovingly Did you find this article helpful? Why Do People Break Up: 23 Possible Reasons

6. Infidelity

Reasons to end a relationship often center around infidelity and broken trust.

Breakup statistics in the Journal of Marriage and Divorce report that 70% of Americans will engage in some form of infidelity at some point during their marriage.

Further studies reveal that infidelity is one of the most common reasons people break up.

7. Excessive jealousy

Is your partner jealous? Are you constantly proving your whereabouts to your spouse or giving your partner access to your private apps and conversations to appease their insecurities?

Excessive jealousy can be overwhelming and can be a contributing factor in why couples break up.

8. Toxic or abusive behavior

One of the biggest reasons you should break up with your partner is if they are displaying physically or emotionally abusive behavior.

Statistics show that more than 10 million men and women will experience intimate partner violence each year in the United States. This often involves physical violence, stalking, threats, and other forms of victimization.

9. You rushed into marriage

If you’re constantly wondering, “Are we going to break up?” you should ask yourself why you and your partner got together in the first place.

The average length of a relationship before breakup is much lower for couples who rush into a marriage.

Why do people break up? Getting married because you feel pressure from your family, you want a dream wedding, or because you’re lonely is going to make it harder to have a successful relationship.

10. Substance abuse

Why do people choose to end a relationship? More importantly, what is a good reason to break up?

Abuse of any kind should not be tolerated in a relationship – romantic or otherwise.

Substance abuse is not only emotionally and physically harmful, but research shows that the misuse of drugs and alcohol were some of the highest predictors for divorce.

11. Sexual incompatibility

One reason why couples break up has to do with physical intimacy.

Sex isn’t everything in a relationship, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important.

Aside from feeling great, sexual intimacy helps your body release the bonding hormone called oxytocin. This all-natural love potion helps boost trust and feelings of love and attachment. Sexual satisfaction is also a predictor of heightened emotional intimacy for couples.

Why do people break up for reasons related to sex? Sexual incompatibility, mismatched libidos, and an unwillingness to compromise on sexual matters are common reasons people break up.

12. You’re always arguing

Another answer to “Why do people break up?” has to do with the inability to deal with conflict. Relationship breakup statistics show that conflict and arguing were some of the most reported contributors to divorce.

And who wants to be in a relationship where you always feel the need to defend yourself? Walking on eggshells is not a comfortable environment for love to grow.

13. No forgiveness

One of the most common reasons people break up is the inability to move on and put the past behind them.

Nobody is perfect. No matter how much you love your spouse, they will still do things that drive you crazy or hurt your feelings.

You can learn how to forgive wrongs, big and small, so long as your partner is truly sorry and willing to make amends.

If you want to understand forgiveness in a relationship on a deeper level, watch this video by relationship expert Coach Adrian:

14. You don’t want the same things

Another common reason couples break up is that partners don’t want the same things out of life.

Differences in religion, whether to start a family, where to live and what to do with spare time can cause couples to consider a mutual breakup.

15. There is no compromise

Why are relationships so hard? Compromise often plays a big role in relationship breakups.

Couples who value compromise put their partner’s happiness before their own. Meeting in the middle on issues, both big and small, shows maturity, love, and teamwork.

On the other hand, couples break up when they can’t compromise and exhibit selfish and stubborn behavior.

16. You have unrealistic expectations

Why do couples break up? One common reason why couples break up is due to unrealistic expectations in a relationship.

When you go into a relationship expecting your partner to be perfect, you are setting your relationship up for disaster.

Unrealistic standards or comparing your current spouse to a former love interest contributes to a good percentage of relationships that fail.

17. Lack of empathy

Empathy is an emotional bridge between you and your spouse.

The Journal of Patient Experience reports that empathy plays a critical role in relationships. When you have empathy for your partner, you can feel their pain and share the joys of their experiences.

When a person lacks empathy, they tend to have poor coping skills, more frequent emotional outbursts, and insensitivity. Such behavior is a recipe for disaster when it comes to building a healthy relationship.

18. You are together for the wrong reasons

Are we going to break up? Are we together for the wrong reasons? These are common questions for couples in peril.

Signs you’re in a relationship for the wrong reasons are:

• You’re in the relationship for the money
• You are only with your partner because you don’t want to be alone
• Your family or friends love your spouse/partner, but you’re not so sure
• You are using your spouse for a place to live
• Your relationship is only about sex
• You’ve been together for a long time, and you’re too comfortable.

What are good reasons to break up? Staying with your partner for the reasons listed above will surely contribute to an unhappy, broken relationship.

19. There is no respect

One of the most common reasons couples break up is a lack of respect in the relationship.

When partners do not respect each other, it often leads to broken boundaries, stress, and low self-esteem – not to mention a lack of trust.

20. Partners don’t accept each other

People don’t usually break up for no reason at all. Still, there isn’t always an obvious explanation – such as infidelity or abuse – to cause couples to part ways.

Couples break up for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes something as simple as not accepting one’s spouse can contribute to couples splitting up.

Partners should never go into relationships expecting to change each other.

If you can’t accept your partner for who they are, it could cause serious problems down the road in the relationship.

When you accept your partner for who they are, you train yourself to focus on their good qualities, which helps boost intimacy. When this is lacking, a relationship will falter.

21. Parenting conflicts

Parenting conflicts arise when couples disagree on how to raise and discipline their children, set boundaries, or make decisions regarding their offspring’s well-being. These disagreements can create significant tension in a relationship.

Conflicting parenting styles can lead to arguments, feelings of frustration, and a sense of not being on the same page when it comes to the family’s future. It’s crucial for couples to engage in open, respectful communication to find common ground and work together as a team in raising their children.

22. Sexual incompatibility

Sexual incompatibility refers to a disparity in sexual desires, preferences, or needs between partners. It can lead to dissatisfaction and frustration in the bedroom, causing stress in the relationship.

One partner may have a higher libido or different sexual preferences, which can result in feelings of rejection or neglect in the other.

23. Financial issues

Financial issues encompass disagreements and stress related to money, including budgeting, spending habits, debts, and financial goals. These issues can strain a relationship as they touch on important aspects of life.

Disagreements about how to manage finances, especially in cases of overspending, debts, or opposing financial goals, can lead to tension and arguments.

How to heal from a breakup

Healing from a breakup takes time and self-care. Begin by allowing yourself to grieve the loss and feel your emotions without judgment.

Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who can listen and offer comfort. Focus on self-care: eat well, exercise, and get enough rest. Engage in activities you enjoy and set new goals. Reflect on the relationship’s lessons and use them to grow.

Consider seeking professional help if needed, such as therapy or counseling. Above all, be patient with yourself; healing is a gradual process. With time and self-compassion, you’ll gradually find the strength to move forward and open your heart to new possibilities.

FAQs

Breakups are a painful part of many people’s lives. Let’s explore some common questions about them.

• What is the most common reason for breakups?

Communication issues and differences in values or goals are often the top reasons for breakups. These challenges can strain a relationship, leading to separation.

• Why do people fall out of love?

Falling out of love can happen due to changing feelings, evolving interests, or unresolved conflicts. It’s a natural part of some relationships.

• Are most breakups permanent?

While many breakups are permanent, some couples do find their way back to each other after personal growth and change. It varies from case to case.

• What percentage of couples who break up get back together?

Statistics vary, but a significant number of couples who break up eventually reconcile, especially if they address the underlying issues.

• Is it normal for couples to break up?

Yes, it’s entirely normal for couples to go through ups and downs. Many people experience multiple breakups before finding a lasting relationship that suits them better.

To break up or not?

Now we know that the most common reasons people break up usually involve a lack of emotional intimacy, sexual incompatibility, differences in life goals, poor communication, and conflict resolution skills.

There are no wrong or good reasons to break up. However, some things in a relationship are just outrightly unacceptable.

One of the most common of these is abuse. Abuse of any kind is an important reason to break up. If you are experiencing abuse in your relationship, turn to a trusted friend or family member for help.

A healthy relationship should leave you feeling refreshed, comfortable, and loved most of the time. If your current relationship lacks these things, it may be time to consider why you should break up or at least reach out for counseling.

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Marriage.com Assessment

Relationship Test: What Help Does Your Relationship Need Most Right Now? If your relationship feels off balance, if communication feels harder, connection weaker, or tension more frequent, this assessment can help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface. Grounded in relationship psychology and evidence-... Questions: 20 | Last updated: Nov 18, 2025 Sample Question When you and your partner talk about something important… We listen with care — even hard talks feel safe and productive We try to talk, but lately emotional closeness feels harder to reach I want to be open, but part of me still guards my heart Our discussions sometimes spiral or end unresolved It’s hard to feel close because our physical intimacy hasn’t felt strong lately We often see things differently about goals or priorities Take the Quiz Now Expert Q&A

What are some real solutions for mending broken relationships?

Jennifer Jacobsen Schulz

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Expert Answer

Some solutions include seeking counseling, spending more time together, expressing gratitude for things you appreciate about your partner, and being careful not to criticize or show contempt for your partner. If the relationship appears broken, it's time to create a new relationship. Leave the old relationship behind and make an effort to rebuild. This is often more successful with the help of a couple's counselor. A counselor can help you develop healthier communication patterns, resolve conflicts, and recover from damage to the relationship. It is possible to repair a broken relationship.

Why do relationships fail?

Editorial Team

Relationship & Marriage Advice

Expert Answer

Relationships fail due to a complex interplay of factors. A lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts. Incompatibility in values, goals, or lifestyles can create growing friction. Life changes, such as career shifts or relocation, can strain bonds. Infidelity breaks trust, often irreparably. Ultimately, relationships require effort, compromise, and continuous nurturing to thrive.

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References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3115386/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4852543/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10502556.2012.682898?journalCode=wjdr20https://scholar.utc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1344&context=mpshttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01463370701658002https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-017-9941-3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230928/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02693241?error=cookies_not_supported&code=87f25d86-ee42-4b08-8d0a-5fa262328ff6https://ncadv.org/STATISTICShttps://ifstudies.org/blog/reasons-people-give-for-divorcehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4012696/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513638/?report=reader

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Sylvia Smith loves to share insights on how couples can revitalize their love lives in and out of the bedroom. As a writer at Marriage.com, she is a big believer in living consciously and encourages couples to adopt this principle... Read more in their lives too. Sylvia believes that every couple can transform their relationship into a happier, healthier one by taking purposeful and wholehearted action. Read less

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