The seven-year itch refers to the idea that people in relationships or marriages get restless after seven years together and decide to either work things out or split. It’s the same idea as the honeymoon phase. A couple can only ride their endorphins and chemistry for so long before getting real. If you think seven years sounds arbitrary, that’s because it is. The term is based off a movie title, not scientific data. However, some studies have shown that divorces spike after a couple has been married for five to 10 years. Couples who get over the initial seven-year hump have a good chance of staying together for the long haul. In 2012, one study declared the seven-year itch is actually more like a 12-year itch in the U.S. The median duration of a first marriage that ended in divorce that year was 12 years, and the median duration of a second marriage was 10 years. The seven-year itch may be more characteristic of folks with multiple marriages under their belt. After all, a first marriage is less likely to end in divorce than a second or third marriage, and people who have been in multiple marriages have already proven themselves less willing to stick around to try to make things work.