More couples filing for divorce

More couples have been getting divorced in Shanghai over the last three years, local media reported Thursday.

A total of 44,364 couples filed for divorce in 2012, up from 38,850 in 2011 and 37,738 in 2010, according to a report on eastday.com.

A majority of the divorced couples were born in the 1970s, though the number of divorced couples born in the 1980s has also been increasing, said Chen Zhanbiao, director of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau's marriage administration office.

Personality differences, loss of affection and a bad sex life were the most common reasons why couples have been getting divorced.

Chen blamed the steady increase in divorces on the character flaws of couples born in the 1980s because most are the only child in their families, making them more self-centered and impatient than couples of previous generations.

There is also less stigma attached to divorce than in the past. "People used to be ashamed of getting a divorce, but it is normal nowadays," Chen told the Global Times.

In addition, some couples have been getting divorced to take advantage of the government's relocation compensation system, Chen said.

When the local government has to relocate a family from their homes, it provides compensation based on the number of households living there. By getting a divorce, couples can get more money out of the government.

The civil affairs bureau did not release the city's official divorce rate, so it is difficult to determine if a greater proportion of married couples have been getting divorced.

Marriages in the city did increase from 2010 to 2012. A total of 143,819 couples registered for marriage in 2012, up from 128,532 in 2010, though down from 2011's figure of 148,095, the report said. Many couples tied the knot on days such as August 8, 2008 and October 10, 2010, which many people consider to be auspicious dates.

Of the 7,189 couples who registered for marriage on August 8, 2008 - which was also the first day of the Beijing Olympics - about 10 percent have since filed for divorce, according to the report. Of the 10,500 couples who got married on October 10, 2010, 3.5 percent are now divorced.

The most recent of such dates was January 4, 2012, a day when 7,300 couples got married in the city. Four have already filed for divorce, the report said.

"Many of the couples made a hasty decision to get married on these so-called auspicious days, which put their marriages at risk," Chen said.

He added that couples would be better off focusing less on auspicious wedding dates and more on building a strong relationship grounded in love and mutual understanding.