Risk for Divorce Tanya Grizzard, writing in the American Family Physician, notes that divorce rates among married medical students are high, between 20% and 50% depending on the specialty area.
Many medical students are married or become married in the course of medical school, but statistics indicate that these marriages have a poor prognosis. In some medical specialties and subspecialties, divorce rates climb over 50 percent, while in others, 20 percent is expected.
11 A subsequent, larger study of 1118 medical graduates of Johns Hopkins University found cumulative rates of divorce of 29%—with rates higher among psychiatrists (50%) and surgeons (33%)—but was limited by its analysis of physicians from a single institution.
Over 30 years of follow-up, the divorce rate was 51 percent for psychiatrists, 33 percent for surgeons, 24 percent for internists, 22 percent for pediatricians and pathologists, and 31 percent for other specialties.
Key findings. The type of job with the highest divorce rate is military work.
According to various studies, the 4 most common causes of divorce are lack of commitment, infidelity or extramarital affairs, too much conflict and arguing, and lack of physical intimacy.
Interestingly, critical care—the least happy specialty, according to the survey—was No. 1 for Generation X, while neurology (second least happy) was No. 2 for millennials.
Statistics show that while women initiate divorce almost twice the rate that men do, women are also much more likely to greatly struggle financially after divorce. This is particularly true if children are involved.
Critical care physician burnout rate (56%) was only second to Emergency Medicine in Medscape's 2022 report. Anytime a patient is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it's stressful for physicians as well as the patient and their loved ones.
Physicians and surgeons
Female physicians and surgeons are most likely to marry male physicians and surgeons. Male physicians and surgeons are most likely to marry female physicians and surgeons.
Plastic surgery is the specialty with the most physicians most likely to report net worth exceeding $5 million, according to Medscape's "Physician Wealth & Debt Report 2021."
That said, there still should be commitment and willingness to prioritize the other person. If plans change, you have to be willing to make up for it and not just let it slide." Like Xiong, Malcolm says the key to maintaining a successful relationship during medical school is communication.
Getting married over the summer break between MS1 and MS2 seems to be the sweet spot. Why? Similar to a college schedule, you can (generally) expect the summer break to be long enough to squeeze in both a wedding and a honeymoon.
The crude divorce rate (divorces per 1,000 Australian residents) was 2.2 divorces per 1,000 residents in 2021, up from 1.9 in 2020. The total number of divorces granted in 2021 was 56,244, the highest number of divorces recorded since 1976.
While some may be happier after a divorce, research indicates most adults that divorce have lower levels of happiness and more psychological distress compared to married individuals. Divorce can bring up new conflicts between couples that cause more tension than when they were married.
Loneliness. Many people say that the loneliness is the hardest part. It takes a very long time to get used to being single. Not only have you lost your partner, and perhaps your best friend, but you have possibly also lost your in-laws and the extended family that you married into.
Family Medicine
Thanks to its direct work with patients, it is one of the most fulfilling specialties, especially if you like interacting with people. In the nature.com review of literature on physician happiness, family medicine professionals (especially male ones) were some of the happiest doctors overall.
Physicians' happiness varies greatly by specialty, with plastic surgeons reporting the most contentment outside of work, a Feb. 24 Medscape report found. The report is based on survey responses from 9,175 U.S. physicians polled between June 28 and Oct. 3, 2022.
In any collaborative process, you will be faced with your limitations—it's inevitable. And this begins to illuminate why being shown your limitations is one of the hardest parts of marriage. It's one thing to confront your limitations alone, it's another to do it in the presence of someone else every single day.
Domestic Violence or Emotional Abuse
Domestic violence is one of the most leading reasons for divorce in Australia. It is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on the lives of those affected. Moreover, the Family Law Act recognises the importance of protecting victims of domestic violence.
Applying for a divorce
Australia has a 'no-fault' divorce system. This means you don't have to say or prove that someone has behaved badly to apply for a divorce. The easiest way to apply for a divorce is to complete an online application on the Commonwealth Courts Portal. You need to register to use the Portal.
Separation like many life events can have multiple causes. The most common reasons reported for divorce are infidelity, incompatibility, substance use and growing apart. Divorcing partners often blame their partner for being the principal reason for the separation.