If you thought marriage was bad here, you should see what's going on in apparently not-so-merry-old England.

According to a survey conducted by a group of lawyers, 59 percent of British wives would divorce immediately if they knew they would not have to worry about their post-divorce financial security. Many — 37 percent — said they were staying in their marriages for the sake of their children, 12 percent said they were in loveless marriages, and 35 percent said they believed their marriages would end up that way.

Now, I'm not sure what to make of these numbers, considering the source. Apparently the law firm that conducted this survey did so after the rash of new divorce cases earlier this month. That, of course, is an annual trend, as many couples wait until the holidays are over before actually going forward with their plans to split up. But my healthy skepticism of the legal profession aside, I don't doubt that these numbers are reflective of the poor state of marriages.

The statistics confirm what many of us who have been through divorce know — money matters are a big deal when you're splitting up. And no doubt there are women and men alike who stay put because they're concerned about not being able to make ends meet on their own.

But perhaps the most startling statistic was that 60 percent were not aware of mediation options that can make the process easier to navigate and cost less. On one hand, you can see the law firm trying to sell its services with that number. But again, it's probably accurate. People get intimidated by the costs and the idea of dealing with the legal system, so they don't pursue a divorce, even if it's what they want to do.

I don't think anyone should let a law firm's propaganda be the determining factor in the decision to get a divorce. But educating yourself about the available options is worth doing. And knowing that you're not alone in your unhappiness — or in your reasons for staying — can maybe bring some small semblance of peace of mind as well.

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