Have distortions crept in your married life lately? Beware of your parents, says an expert on marriage and relationships.

It has been found that in many marriage break-ups parents' unsolicited advice is often to blame, the expert said.

"Unwanted advice of parents should be avoided while tackling crisis situations in a relationship. The couples ought to be independent to make their own decisions," Florida-based marriage counsellor Ernest Underwood said.

During the initial period of marriage, couples do not have the kind of understanding. "However, they should exercise self-control during a crisis situation and resolve the problem by themselves, avoiding unwanted advice from their parents," Underwood said.

This, according to Underwood, would make the couples stronger, happier and equip them mentally to tackle situations in future.

Underling that inability to meet conflict situations with good emotional reactions often leads to strained relationships, he said couples should deal with disagreements in a rational way.

Underwood, who has written a number of books and conducted radio shows on the problems facing the institution of marriage, said one of every two marriages in the US ended up in divorce.