Marital woes are a result of gene women inherit

If a relationship is filled with rows or a marriage comes to an end, men may wonder what went wrong. But scientists say the answer could lie in a woman’s genes. For the first time, they have identified a female ‘divorce gene’ that can predict a rocky marriage and identify women who may struggle to commit to their partner. Women who inherit the variation of a common gene are less likely to get married in the first place as they find it harder to bond with other people. But if they do marry, they are 50 per cent more likely to report a troubled relationship filled with marital strife. Perhaps unsurprisingly, partners of women with the gene are also more likely to report being unhappy. Article continues below Scientists believe the gene affects how women process the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin, which is known to promote feelings of love and maternal affection