Society today likes to pretend that it's only after we get married (or after we've had kids, or after we've been married for 10 years, etc.) that we start to have real relationship problems, but some recent research shows that the seeds of discontent are usually sown right from the beginning of a relationship. In fact, one study found that in two-thirds of marriages, one or both spouses had significant premarital doubts about the marriage. Here are 3 things to be wary of in your relationship:

1. Premarital Cycling

a.k.a. Dating, then breaking up, then getting back together before marriage predicts lower marital quality and stability. This is common in relationships, but it doesn't mean it's good for them. This kind of instability early on sets a precedent for how open partners can be with each other. i.e. "If I talk about this with him/her, he/she will get overwhelmed because last time I brought something like this up, he/she needed a break from me. I'll just keep it to myself." This is a dangerous pattern to fall into. It's important to feel safe and secure in a marriage for it to stay healthy and have longevity.

2. Sliding Into Marriage

Couples often have low levels of commitment and end up sliding into marriage instead of making a very conscious and clear decision to be committed to their future spouse. This frequently happens when couples live together, but aren't officially married yet. The issue is that when this "sliding" occurs, there is less initial commitment and willingness to stick it out when things get tough, which is essential to any marriage

3. Negative Communication and Emotional Exchanges

Some couples can be happy in the early years of marriage in spite of these negative patterns at first (sarcasm, criticism, disengagement, harsh jokes, etc.), but it generally predicts divorce 10 years later. This kind of communication probably exists even when couples are just dating or engaged, but there is enough infatuation and initial excitement that it is easy to forgive these little hurts. After 10 years of feeling belittle and criticized, though, it's difficult to repair the emotional damage that has been done.

Of course, this is just 3 factors of many that predict marital satisfaction and stability, but we thought these three were particularly important.

This article was originally published on Relate Institute. It has been republished here with permission.