More than one third of Americans report having ended a relationship over political differences, according to recent research. Experts say those divisions may also be placing strain on some marriages as partisan disagreements become harder for partners to avoid.

Some prominent couples have stayed together despite opposing views. Democratic strategist James Carville and his wife, Republican political consultant Mary Matalin, are among those who have navigated political differences within their marriage.

Anna Elton, Ph.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical sexologist in Massachusetts, has counseled couples on opposite sides of the political aisle. She is also the author of “The Formula of Desire.”

“A lot of couples come in and they want to work on communication, and politics can come up in our sessions,” Elton told Fox News Digital. She said some couples have families and children but feel unable to discuss politics with each other.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

Political compatibility is also becoming an early consideration for many single people, Elton said. She referenced a recent study finding that younger adults tend to make assumptions about religion, gender roles, empathy and other personal characteristics based on political affiliation.

“So, before you get to know the person, you’ve already created this assumption of who this person is.” Elton said younger clients have told her they want to know a potential date’s political party before deciding whether to meet.

For couples who have been married for decades, the current political divide can create challenges that were not present when their relationships began. Elton offered three strategies for handling politically charged conversations without allowing disagreements to define the partnership.

First, couples can establish rules for a conversation and agree on its tone before beginning. Elton said the first three minutes of a discussion typically predict its outcome, while an accusatory or harsh opening is unlikely to produce a constructive exchange.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“So, before you talk, say, ‘OK, these are our boundaries for this conversation.’” Those limits can also apply to media habits, including how much political material partners consume, particularly through social media.

“You read certain things and then all of a sudden, you keep scrolling on your social media and you see similar content coming up over and over and over again,” Elton said. “And at this point, it creates an illusionary effect.”

According to Elton, repeatedly hearing the same information can gradually lead someone to accept it as true. That dynamic can become especially difficult when two partners are immersed in separate echo chambers containing contradictory information.

Couples should also be careful not to spend more time on their phones than they spend engaging with one another, Elton said. Excessive screen time can leave less space for eye contact, conversation and shared experiences, while constant political consumption can make politics the primary subject one partner wants to discuss.

Although partners with different political beliefs may not reach agreement on every issue, agreeing to disagree can help them avoid hostility. “We can still love each other,” Elton said. “It's not going to affect our relationship .”

Problems can deepen when someone begins defining a partner entirely through a political belief, Elton cautioned. She encouraged couples to seek common ground instead of treating every disagreement in black and white terms.

After an argument or an unsuccessful attempt at compromise, partners should reconnect, according to Elton. Reassuring words such as “I love you” and “You matter to me more than anything else” can help restore the connection after a difficult exchange.

“I feel like you always need to say, ‘Hey, I hear what you're saying, but I'm not agreeing, and that's OK.’” Elton emphasized that a political argument can affect more than the couple when one partner shares the other person’s views with relatives or friends.

“You can create this triangulation where you're connecting with someone against your partner, and you don't want that,” she warned. Elton said confiding in family and friends can shape their opinions of a partner and influence how they speak to or interact with that person.

Before ending a relationship over political conflict, Elton advised slowing down and returning to a more grounded state. Rather than relying on assumptions based on political affiliation, media or podcasts, she encouraged partners to ask questions, remain curious and listen with an open mind.

“We hear certain things and we fill in the gaps,” she said. “When we hear someone's political affiliation, we often make assumptions about who they are without really hearing them out.”