Intrapersonal characteristics and the timing of divorce: A prospective investigation

Data from two longitudinal studies (Normative Aging Study and Terman Life Cycle Study) were used to investigate the intrapersonal predictors of earlier and later divorce. Initially married individuals were classified as having not divorced, divorced before 20 years of marriage, or divorced after 20 or more years of marriage. Individuals rated as more disagreeable (angry, vain/egotistical, lacking sympathy/tenderness) and more impulsive (lacking conscientiousness and perseverance) were at higher risk for earlier than later divorce. Although individuals rated higher on neuroticism were more likely to divorce, certain aspects of neuroticism (feelings of inadequacy and sensitivity) were not associated with the timing of divorce. Results indicate that intrapersonal characteristics that are associated with divorces occurring relatively early in marriages are not necessarily predictive of divorces occurring in marriages of longer duration.