In previous generations where many people waited and it was almost unheard of to live together first, the divorce rate was MUCH lower.
Because the stigma of shame was so heavily associated and to be honest, I don't see it as having been a sex related issue, myself. Not at all.
It was about personal shame and shame in the broader sense that your actions would bring your family's name into disrepute. The number of marriages which remained legally intact but were void of love would be incalculable.
Remaining party to a marriage is no sure sign that the marriage itself was/is happy or worthwhile. My very own great grandmother noted on the death of her husband of 70 years that the best thing he ever did was, well, move on to "greener pastures".
She neither sought comfort from another man nor did she even contemplate divorce, yet the connection between the two was near non existant. A loveless marriage, but to divorce would have been social suicide. Even an aunt of mine didn't divorce her husband for fear of what shame it would have brought upon my grandparents and their good name.
Be it that the example of my great grandparents is not representative of most, but you get the meaning I'm sure.
The point is that people divorce now and more frequently because acknowledging when something isn't right no longer holds them hostage, socially. As people have evolved, so too has the contemplation of religion to an extent and social values. For better or worse, the fact is they have changed and to remain ignorant of change or even disregard it is, I think, rather unfortunate for that person.
If an emtoional detatchment is present in a marriage, then it's all over. Whether the marriage is ended or remains purely due to convenience, it is over. And in the event intimacy continues, it's little more than a natural inclination to do so. Our most primal instinct is to engage in sexual relations.
And quite honestly, no one deserves to be in a marriage which leaves them looking for validation.
I'm sure Albert and Charlene will have a great marriage, in every way. I'm sure hopefull that will be the case anyway.