4 Reasons Couples Split During The Holidays

Reluctance to introduce a mate to family members or buy gifts are factors.

The holiday season is known for being a time of family togetherness and stolen kisses under the mistletoe. But all too often couples break up during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. According to a 2010 study called “Peak Break-Up Times,” Christmastime is second only to spring break in yielding romantic splits.  So why are couples so likely to put the kibosh on a relationship during the holidays? Reluctance to buy a gift for a mate or introduce a significant other to family members play roles.

The Family Factor: If a relationship is already heading south, some couples question the need to prolong it during the holidays. Why introduce your boyfriend to your family members if you think the two of you won’t last, especially if the intro requires traveling hundreds of miles away. “You don’t want to be dogged by worries or pressure, you don’t want to be worrying about the potential ups and downs in your relationship, you just want to clear the space,” David McCandless, the creator of the “Peak Break-Up Times” chart, told ABC News.

New Year’s Resolutions: Apparently the New Year isn’t just the time to lose weight or quit smoking but also the time to dump your partners. January is reportedly the most popular month for divorce filings. “What I hear from my clients is that they were struggling with the marriage before the holiday season,” divorce consultant Cathy Meyer told relationship website Your Tango. “If they have children, the holidays are supposed to be a magical time, so they commit to giving the kids one last happy holiday as an intact family.”

The Gift Factor: Some people simply don’t want to spend holiday cash on someone they’d rather be without. If their relationship was on the rocks before the holidays, they’d rather completely back out of the romance before Christmas arrives. They don’t want to feel obligated to buy a fancy gift for a person they’re likely to soon dump.

Family Disapproval: Some relationships last through Christmas, only to dissolve by New Year’s. Why? For many, the holidays are the first opportunity to meet a significant other’s family. If the family and the mate clash, the end of the relationship could be near. Psychologist Andrew Christensen told MSNBC, “How a family views a member’s partner often has a powerful impact.”

[ALSO READ: How to Budget During the Holidays]

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