Most individuals imagine marriage as a blissful, sacred union, which is not to be taken lightly. Thus, the decision to get married is not, and should not, be an easy one. We can take many factors into consideration before deciding to get married, but some are more important than others. Of course, our love and the quality of relationship we have with our partner should be the most important considerations. However, studies have shown that other factors regularly determine whether a marriage will last the test of time.
It seems that age at the time of marriage is an important factor. Marriages that begin prior to the couple entering their twenties often end in divorce. This seems to be, in part, due to another important factor: length of the relationship prior to marriage. It is often important to establish a strong relationship foundation by dating our partner for a notable period prior to committing to marriage. Those individuals who enter marriage after only a short period and/or are at a young age, often end-up as divorcees.
Marriage is also more likely to endure if the partners are close in age, as they are in similar places in their lives and can understand each other’s behaviors more easily. It seems to be just as important for couples to share the same religious or spiritual beliefs. Religion and spirituality are controversial topics that have the potential to create unbearable turmoil within a relationship if the beliefs are not similar. Those who have a higher level of religious or spiritual devoutness are also more likely to have successful marriages.
A number of other commonalities are also important for a marriage. Individuals with comparable education and employment levels often share similar thoughts on the importance of learning, as well as work ethic. Also of note is a similar upbringing. Those couples who come from a stable, two-parent family have a greater chance of staying married themselves. It seems that couples from these homes share positive beliefs about the value of marriage and take the commitment seriously.
In order to have that everlasting marriage we all dream of, we must consider these and a multitude of other factors prior to making that commitment. We should take a look at these areas and discuss issues of concern with our partner. Certainly, there are some couples who make their marriages work even if none of the aforementioned are present. However, it is important to recognize and address them before saying “I do”.
