January may be the beginning of the new year but it also marks the end to a lot of marriages. In England the first Monday of January is known as blue Monday and it's the most popular day to start divorce proceedings.


Experts point to a number of factors, including the end of the holidays - when many spend time with family, and seasonal depression.


Dr. Matthew Johnson of Binghamton University notes depression and marital problems go hand-in-hand. He says while some marriages should end, divorce is a serious step that should not be undertaken lightly.


"Divorce is one of the few things that will actually drop your life satisfaction and keeps it down for the rest of your life. So that's just one example of why divorce is something to take very seriously. It also has impacts, we know, on children," said Dr. Matthew D. Johnson, Professor at Binghamton University.


For those of you looking to shake this talk of divorce, Johnson says marriage has many supportive benefits as well, with married people showing higher rates of health and income. He is conducting a study about marriage and well-being. Interested couples should call 777-6315.