Why Marrying Early In Life Isn’t All Bad

The statistics and news articles always show the same thing: get married later in life. Don’t marry so young; you’ll get divorced.

But in talking to younger couples, this way of thinking is not always true. In many cases, marrying early in life can have its advantages. Once you’ve found someone to spend the rest of your life with, why wait?

The model of marriage prefers marriage after education, career, and home ownership. Statistics show that waiting until all these achievements are unlocked makes a marriage happier and more stable. However, many couples are bucking this trend and getting married in their early 20s. Many are thriving.

In fact, a report from National Marriage Project 2022 shows that when it comes to heterosexual relationships, earlier marriages can be just as successful as ones that are formed later in life. The report analyzes three national surveys to see if marrying between the ages of 20 and 24 is a bad idea—and surprisingly, it’s not.

The results showed that marriages that occurred in the early twenties do just as well as later marriages. In fact, earlier marriages have a higher relationship quality, with 81% of husbands saying that they were satisfied with their relationships and 63% saying they were sexually satisfied. This is compared to 71% and 49% of men who married later in life. The statistics also favor wives who married younger.

But why? Research suggests that having multiple partners increases the risk of divorce, despite the belief that waiting for marriage and having multiple partners allows a person to get their sexual exploration “out of their system.” Plus, waiting to get married seems to cause people to become narcissistic. People spend too long focused on themselves, making it hard to compromise in a relationship.

Marrying early has its benefits. It gives people something to live for. It gives them hope and someone to lean on, in good times and bad. Marriage also brings about stability. It can help a couple get a decent place to live and working vehicles. Being married can also bring about changes to one’s personality, improving motivation and work ethic. These couples spend their early years navigating through life together and they get to experience all of life’s ups and downs together. It makes them excited about the future.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, love knows no age. If you’re in love, go for it. For many, it was the best decision they ever made.

Contact a Maryland Family Law Attorney Today

Age does not always affect whether or not someone will get divorced. Some make their marriages work earlier in life, even if they don’t have as much real-world experience as their older counterparts.

No matter how your relationship progresses, there are legal options. A Columbia family lawyer from The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. can help guide you through divorce, counseling, and other options. Schedule a consultation with our office today. Fill out the online form or call (410) 774-5987.

Resource:

newsweek.com/this-valentines-day-do-yourself-favor-commit-early-marriage-opinion-1677348