# Why Decades-Old Marriages End

> Couples who've been married for decades often divorce due to lack of commitment, infidelity, and unaddressed conflicts.
- Title: Why Decades-Old Marriages End · VICE | Shortify
- Summary: Couples who've been married for decades often divorce due to lack of commitment, infidelity, and unaddressed conflicts. After 20-30 years of marriage, some…
- Keywords: divorce, marriage, commitment, infidelity, unaddressed conflicts, news, culture, Decades-Old, Marriages, End, VICE
- Source: VICE — https://vice.com/en/article/5-reasons-couples-get-divorced-after-decades-of-marriage-according-to-experts
- Author: Ashley Fike
- Published: 2026-10-26T12:50:28+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: divorce, marriage, commitment, infidelity, unaddressed conflicts, news, culture
## The Empty Nest Effect
After children leave home, couples often stop having meaningful conversations.

> Is this the person I want to spend another 20 or 30 years with?
## The Silent Communication Trap
Couples develop habits like eye-rolling and sarcasm to express irritation without speaking.

> You can either be right, or you can be in a relationship.
## Marriage Falls to Priority List
Work, aging parents, and children push marriage to the back of life priorities.
## Infidelity as a Final Straw
60% of divorced adults cite infidelity as a major reason for ending their marriages.

> 24% named cheating among those who identified a final straw.
## Substance Abuse and Violence
Domestic violence and substance abuse are common final straws for long-term marriages.

> The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential support at 1-800-799-7233.
## Key takeaway

After 20-30 years of marriage, some couples divorce because they've become accustomed to unhappiness without realizing it.