The research, led by sociologist Ruth Eva Jørgensen at the University of Oslo, found that inherited genetic traits can slightly influence a person’s likelihood of experiencing a relationship breakdown. However, the study emphasizes that life choices, relationships and environment remain far more important than genetics alone.
“Our destiny does not lie in our genes, but if a relationship were a jigsaw puzzle, our genetics would make up some of the pieces that can influence the risk of a breakup,” Jørgensen explained. “It is the sum of these that can give some of us a slightly higher or lower risk of leaving our partner.”
Rather than searching for a single “divorce gene,” researchers analyzed DNA from thousands of participants in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, one of the world’s largest family health studies. They examined what are known as “polygenic scores,” which combine the effects of thousands of small genetic variations linked to different personality traits and behaviors.
The results revealed several interesting patterns. People with genetic traits associated with higher educational attainment, greater overall well-being and having children later in life were generally less likely to experience a relationship breakdown. Meanwhile, those with genetic tendencies linked to smoking, risk-taking behavior and becoming sexually active at a younger age showed a modestly higher likelihood of separation.
One of the study’s most surprising findings involved neuroticism, a personality trait often associated with anxiety and emotional sensitivity. Contrary to expectations, people with a higher genetic tendency toward neuroticism were actually slightly less likely to experience a breakup.
“One could think that neuroticism would lead to an increased risk of relationship breakdown,” Jørgensen said. “On the other hand, if you are somewhat more anxious and vulnerable, you may need the security a relationship provides.”
To help separate the effects of genetics from upbringing, the researchers compared siblings who shared much of the same childhood environment but inherited different combinations of genes. When those genetic differences aligned with different relationship outcomes, it strengthened the evidence that inherited DNA plays some role.
Still, the researchers found that genetics explained only a small portion of relationship outcomes—about 9% of the variation in women’s likelihood of relationship breakdown and roughly 3% in men.
Jørgensen cautioned against viewing genetics as destiny.
“The same genetic variants can have different impact depending on what kind of environment, opportunities and relationships you encounter throughout life,” she said. “Genes contribute to making us different, but they act together with our life history, our environment, our partner and everything else that happens in life.”
The findings serve as a reminder that while biology may subtly influence our relationships, lasting love is shaped far more by the daily choices couples make, the commitment they share and the life they build together.
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