Everyone desires once-in-a-lifetime love and marriage, but experience demonstrates that this is a rare event in harsh reality. Recently, divorce rates have increased 2.5 times in the previous 50 years, while marriage rates have decreased two times. The good news is that predicting a divorce is likely, and scientific evidence supports this.
We hope for a future with more calm and robust families. That’s why we sifted through numerous studies to identify the nine most distinct divorce predictors revealed by scientists.
1. The number of smiles in their childhood photos
Psychologists conducted a series of tests to determine whether it is possible to forecast divorce using childhood and youthful imagery. In one study, scientists used images from a college yearbook to rate the power of grins on a scale of 1 to 10. The test involves straining two muscles: one clinched the jaw and the other caused wrinkles around the eyes.
There were no divorces among people whose smiles were rated as “10.” Among the frowners, every fourth person divorced simultaneously. On average, those who look gloomy in photographs are five times more likely to divorce than those who grin.
2. The emotional tone of their voice
A computer algorithm can predict the success of a marriage with 79 per cent accuracy based solely on the sound of the couples’ voices when communicating. Scientists analysed the discussions of over 100 couples who were seeing a counsellor and tracked their marital status over five years.
Intensity, pitch, “jitter,” and “shimmer” can all be utilised to convey strong emotions. It is important not just to say what you mean but also to say it properly. According to the experts, this also applies to pair partnerships.
3. Colleagues of the opposite sex
According to Danish studies, those who work only with people of the opposite sex are 15% more likely to divorce.
When they looked at all of the couples who married in Denmark between 1981 and 2002, they were able to see the problem from a bigger perspective. They realised that one million of them were already divorced.
4. Mother’s upbringing
Women file for divorce at a higher rate than men. Furthermore, research has found that most couples mirror the behaviour of their parents, particularly their mothers.
Sociologists studied the actions of 7,000 people and discovered that when a mother moved into a new relationship (whether marriage or cohabitation), her adult children behaved similarly.
5. Ignoring conflicts
There are four symptoms of a prospective divorce: disdain, victimhood, opponents, and disregarding arguments. The “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” may appear innocent at first glance, but it is actually an extremely harmful behavioural technique.
Assume you’re all set for a fierce debate about a topic that’s been bugging you for a while. The conversation abruptly comes to a halt.
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It may appear that doing so allows spouses to maintain harmony, but this is not the case. While fights and disagreements aren’t the most enjoyable aspects of communication, they do help to cross all of the T’s. They are anticipated to resolve the lingering difficulties. If these circumstances are missed, more difficulties will arise.
6. A husband’s negative attitude towards his wife’s friends
Over 16 years of marriage, experts studied the relationships of 373 couples. By their 16th year of marriage, 46% of couples had divorced, and the husband’s criticism of his wife’s friends in the first year of marriage frequently foretold a split.
This is because female-female friendships persist longer due to emotional connection and support, whereas male friendships are typically built on shared activities. As a result, males find it easier to change their contact circle and more difficult to reconcile with their wives’ mates, whom they despise.
7. Newlyweds’ excessive affection towards each other
A study that examined 168 couples who had been together for fewer than thirteen years said, “When they were newlyweds, couples who got divorced 7 or more years later showed almost 1/3 more love for each other than spouses in more stable marriages.”
This is because couples who started a relationship with high romantic feelings were more likely to end it. After all, maintaining the intensity of those feelings was challenging for them. Marriages with less ‘Hollywood romance’ start with a greater chance of succeeding.
8. Poverty and unemployment
Living in a difficult situation is challenging. These families’ relationships fail more frequently than financially stable households.
People believe the plan operates harshly to extract money from men’s wallets. Most separated and divorced males have such low salaries that they contribute very little to the well-being of their mothers and children.
9. Narrow bed
Couples should sleep separately or on a very large bed for their mental and physical well-being, good sleep, and a safe family environment. Researchers studying sleep disorders discovered that 30-40% of couples sleep in separate beds, which is actually a good thing because poor sleep can lead to divorce. Therefore, if you want to keep your relationship safe, make sure you get enough sleep.
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OdumoduBlvck recently praised Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy in an interview with Beats FM.
The rapper discussed his latest project, “Nothing Changed,” a collaborative effort with the Anti-World Gangsters crew. The album features Don Jazzy on the track “Asampete.”
OdumoduBlvck revealed that after recording “Asampete,” he felt the song would benefit from Don Jazzy’s contribution. When approached, Don Jazzy readily agreed to the request.
During their meeting, Don Jazzy not only added his vocals to the song but also surprised OdumoduBlvck with a generous gift of $10,000.
Impressively, Don Jazzy declined any royalties for his contribution to the track.
“When I went to his house to get his vocals, he gave me $10,000 and even my friend was asking me why he gave me such a huge amount of money,” he narrated in the interview.
OdumoduBlvck further praised Don Jazzy, describing him as the most original personality in the Nigerian music industry and a true icon.
“There’s nobody more original than Don Jazzy…The way the younger artists look up to Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Olamide today is how they used to look up to Don Jazzy”.
OdumoduBlvck’s praise for Don Jazzy’s generosity and influence on the Nigerian music industry echoes sentiments expressed by numerous artists whose careers have been shaped by the Mavin Records boss.
Four-time Grammy nominee Davido has credited Don Jazzy and D’banj’s flamboyant lifestyle for inspiring him to relocate to Nigeria and pursue his musical aspirations.
Don Jazzy’s philanthropic endeavours also continue to make headlines. Recently, he donated a substantial sum of 100 million naira to Very Dark Man’s charity.
Nigerian actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi shared a compelling message about self-empowerment through her Instagram platform on December 19, 2024.
The Nollywood veteran directly addressed her followers in a social media post, urging them to break free from seeking external validation.
Anunobi, known for her influential roles in the Nigerian film industry, stressed that individuals should cultivate a strong sense of self-worth independent of others’ opinions.
The acclaimed actress articulated that personal growth and fulfilment stem from embracing one’s authentic self rather than conforming to societal expectations or public judgment.
In the video posted, Eucharia Anunobi enquired, “Why do you want everyone to like you? Even ice cream isn’t liked by everyone, come on.”Her post caption read,
“Seeking to be liked by all is a sign that you are emotionally and spiritually imbalanced! Some people will hate you because to hate is what gives them joy!! Because they are genetically wicked!!! So get used to not being liked!!!!1 John 5:19.”
The actress’s post ignited a flurry of reactions in her comment section, with followers expressing support and sharing their personal reflections.
Actress Sola Sobowale commented simply, “Fact.”
Other followers shared their thoughts, with one writing, “Anyone who is always seeking validation from the public whenever he or she does something, just know say that person no clear 💯.”
“Caring what people think about you is natural. Letting it drive your behaviours and keep you from doing things you believe in is usually a sign of,” said another person.
Another Instagram user shed more light on the issue, saying,
“codependency conditioning. The core belief in codependency is: what people think of me defines what I think of me. My mother always said, “Your opinion of me is none of my business.” It can get real exhausting perceiving yourself through the eyes of others. No matter how pure your intention, you cannot control how people receive you. Give others the freedom to perceive you as they wish, for it’s merely a reflection of themselves and not your reality. Never mind who sees you. Do you see you?”
“I don’t like people who wanna be liked by everyone, just do you and move on,”
“Thisss ,it’s okay to be a bad person in another persons story ,Only God is PERFECT 👍”
Former BBNaija star and content creator Elozonam revealed how Nigeria’s “japa” syndrome—where individuals emigrate in search of better opportunities abroad—has impacted his personal relationships, especially with friends and family.
During a conversation on the Uncoloured Podcast, hosted by fellow BBNaija alum Venita, Elozonam candidly shared how his twin brother’s relocation has significantly altered their once-close dynamic.
“For my twin brother and I, being twins, we naturally used to argue a lot,” Elozonam said. “But after he left, there was nothing to fight about. Now I have to consciously reach out to him because there are days or weeks when I don’t hear from him. It’s frustrating, but I understand that everyone has to do what they need to survive and build a better life.”
Elozonam reflected on how the japa wave has reshaped his social circle. He traced the trend back to 2018 when his former boss moved abroad with his family.
“That seemed to open the floodgates,” he said. “Since then, people have been leaving one after the other. It’s exhausting. You become hesitant to form new friendships because you don’t know if they’ll just up and leave tomorrow.”
He expressed deep frustration about Nigeria’s deteriorating economy and infrastructure. He acknowledged that unemployment, insecurity, and poor living conditions push many Nigerians to seek better opportunities in other countries.
“Between 2018 and 2024, I’ve seen so many people leave. Nigeria isn’t improving, and everyone wants a better future. It’s hard to blame them, but it’s also hard for those of us left behind.”
Watch the interview below.
“…you’re now too wary of making new friends. Nigeria is not getting any better. We all know this”
Elozonam speaks about living in a different country from his twin brother and the downsides of japa. pic.twitter.com/zc7KMuLcdX