You think of yourself as an intelligent individual — and begrudgingly appreciate that your spouse is one smart cookie. But is your collective intelligence actually a good thing for your relationship? Or could it increase your likelihood of divorce? Read on to find out.

The Role of Academic Achievement

Ample research indicates that college-educated individuals are less likely to get divorced. For example, a 2012 National Health Statistics Report estimates that nearly 80 percent of college-educated women married between 2006 and 2010 will make it to their twenty-year anniversary. Their marital success may not directly result from previous academic efforts, but rather, their increased income; college-educated people tend to earn more, thereby reducing the likelihood of divorcing due to financial stressors.

IQ and Divorce Rates

Regardless of college education, IQ appears to impact divorce likelihood. In The General Intelligence Factor, Linda S. Gottfredson reveals that couples of below average intelligence are 50 percent more likely to divorce than those of above average intelligence.

Gottfredson’s findings echo statistics from The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life.In The Bell Curve, researchers observed a 28 percent likelihood of divorce within five years of marriage for couples with an IQ of 100. Meanwhile, those with an IQ of 130 saw only a 9 percent probability of divorce in the five years after they tied the knot.

Explanations of IQ’s role in divorce vary, but some researchers believe that intelligent spouses possess stronger problem solving skills. This ultimately allows them to work through issues that might destroy other couples’ relationships.

No matter your IQ or educational attainment, you deserve support from an attorney who cares. Call the law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. at (763) 783-5146 for insight into our legal approach.