新奇事件簿 研究表明三月和八月离婚率升高（在线收听）

Couples might want to put a little extra effort into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have identified annual spikes in the number of divorces filed in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. state of Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 alone. The scientists found that over the 14-year period of the study, divorce rates peaked in August, after the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be due to financial problems caused by the winter and summer holidays.

夫妻们或许想在每年的三月和八月之前为他们的婚姻做出一点额外的努力。社会学家发现每年的这两个月离婚率会升高。来自华盛顿大学的研究人员分析了2001年至2015年间美国华盛顿州登记的离婚数据。仅在2014年，该州就有2.5万对夫妻离婚。科学家发现，在研究的14年间，八月份，也就是夏季假期过后，以及三月份，圣诞节和新年假期过后，离婚率会上升。一些研究人员表示，离婚可能是由于冬季和夏季假期引发的财政问题。

Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the anti-climax felt after the build-up to holidays, and the holidays themselves, may leave couples feeling stressed and deflated. She said: "People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It's like an optimism cycle." Couples generally spend more time in closer proximity to each other during holidays, which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than rekindle romance.

研究员Julie Brines表示，期待节日的到来以及过节的热情之后的平淡可能让夫妻们感到压力和气馁。她说：“人们倾向于对节日带有越来越高的期望，尽管过去多年的节日都是以失望收场。”她补充说：“节日代表着一年中有期望的日期，或者代表有机会迎接新的开始，形势有所不同，生活过渡到新的时期。就好像一个乐观周期。”通常来说，节日期间，夫妻们会花费更多的时间在一起，这实际上可能加重紧张关系，而不是重燃爱火。