10 Reasons to Save Your Marriage
In the Autumn 2000 edition of the City Journal, author Maggie Gallagher reviewed the scientific evidence on the positive consequences of marriage. Together with University of Chicago Scholar Linda J. Waite, they found that the accumulated scientific evidence ‘affirms what Genesis teaches: it is not good for man to be alone – no, nor woman either’. They found that ‘in virtually every way that social scientists can measure, married people do much better than the unmarried or divorced: they live longer, healthier, happier, sexier, and more affluent lives’.
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Now this is great news if you’re already married. And if your marriage is in trouble, it gives all the more reason to take action to save your marriage.
Ten Reasons Why Marriage is Good for You
Gallagher then moves to outline the ‘Top Ten Reasons why Marriage is Good for you’. Before you decide that you’re marriage isn’t worth saving, and that you’ll be better off single than in an ‘unhappy relationship’, please read the following Top 10 reasons why marriage is good for you:
Reason # 10 – IT’S SAFER. Marriage lowers the risk that both men and women will become victims of violence , including domestic violence. The researchers show that ‘single and divorced women were four to five times more likely to be victims of violence in any given year than wives’ bachelors were four times more likely to be violent crime victims than husbands’. Not only that, but people who are married are three times less likely to have physical arguements than those who cohabit.
Reason # 9 – IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. Basically, if you’re married, you have a better chance of living longer. Married people have better immune systems than divorced people (even those who had divorced years before); in fact, being unmarried chops almost ten years off a man’s life! Now that’s a BIG effect!
Reason #8 – IT CAN SAVE YOUR KID’S LIFE. Children lead healthier, longer lives if parents get and stay married. In one particular study, it was found that a parent’s divorce knocked four years off the adult child’s life expectancy.
Reason # 7 – YOU WILL EARN MORE MONEY. While most men think of marriage as a financial burden, the evidence suggests the opposite: that for men especially, marriage gives a boost in earnings. In fact, ‘getting a wife may increase an American male’s salary by about as much as a college education.’ Now that’s impressive, and a little surprising!
Reason # 6 – DID I MENTION YOU’LL GET RICHER? Married people not only make more money, but manage it much better than they would have alone. On the verge of retirement, the average married couple has accumulated assets worth about $410,000, compared with $167,000 for the never married and $154,000 for the divorced.
Reason # 5 – YOU’LL TAME HIS CHEATIN’ HEART (HERS, TOO). Marriage actually increases sexual fidelity. Cohabiting men are four times more likely to cheat than husbands, and cohabiting women are eight times more likely to cheat than wives.
Reason # 4 – YOU WON’T GO BONKERS. Marriage is good for your mental health. You’re less likely to be depressed, less anxious, and less psychologically distressed than single, divorced or widowed Americans. By contrast, getting divorced has negative effects on your mental health. It increases depression and hostility, lower’s your self esteem, and sense of personal mastery and purpose in life.
Reason # 3 – IT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY. Overall, 40 percent of married people say they are ‘very happy’, compared with just 25 percent of singles or cohabitors. And just 18 percent of divorced adults say they are ‘very happy’, and divorced adults are twice as likely as married folk to say they are ‘not happy’ with life in general.
Reason # 2 – YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE YOU MORE. Adult dids of divorced parents have weaker relationships with their parents, than adult kids of married parents.
Reason # 1 – YOU’LL HAVE BETTER SEX, MORE OFTEN. Despite Hollywood hype from movies such as Sex in the City, both husbands and wives are more likely to report that they have an extremely satisfying sex life than singles or cohabitors.
Conclusion
The research is now in: divorce is not a sure-fire way to happiness. So unless there are serious reasons to separate from your partner (such as abuse or violence of some kind), you’ll be much better off by trying to save your marriage. It’s the best thing you could do.
Click Here for the Definitive Guide on How to Save Your Marriage