While both men and women end New Jersey marriages, research shows that one gender is more likely to initiate a divorce than the other. Women are substantially more likely to suggest ending a marriage than their male counterparts, and there are a number of reasons this holds true.

Psychology Today reports that women initiate two-thirds of all modern divorces. According to some estimates, women initiate as many as 70% of today's divorces, and they often cite similar reasons for doing so.

Why women are requesting divorces

Some women decide to ask for divorce simply because they no longer feel satisfaction in their marriages. In other instances, the divorce request comes on the heels of one spouse showing signs of an alcohol or substance dependency. Infidelity is also a frequent factor that leads to divorce discussions, and so, too, are partners having different morals or value systems. Many women also decide to seek divorce because they feel their partners do not value their contributions, or because they feel they take on far more responsibilities than their spouses.

What to expect from a “left behind” spouse

Not everyone reacts to a divorce request in the same way. Sometimes, the partner who does not initiate the divorce winds up feeling hostile or expressing resentment toward the party who initiated the split. In other cases, the left-behind spouse may start engaging in actions designed to make the departing spouse come back and “fix” the relationship.”

While it is normal for a spouse who did not want a divorce to have such feelings, there are certain steps the spouse who does want the split might take to make leaving the marriage easier. Getting a financial plan in place is one such step, and establishing a strong support network is another.