At what age should we marry to escape divorce?
Is there an ideal age for marriage so that it lasts forever? According to the study of the American sociologist Nicholas Wolfinger, yes…
Remember on April 29, 2011 when the whole world was glued to their TV screens to witness the union of Kate Middleton and Prince William of Wales? Everyone went about with small comments, some finding that the lovers, aged 29 and 30 then, had waited too long before saying yes. Really? Not so sure, because, according to a study conducted by American sociologist Nicholas Wolfinger, a marriage taking place between 25 and 32 years is more likely to be stable.
After analysing data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), a US polling institute, the researcher drew the following conclusion: those who wait the longest to be united are the least likely to live a happy marriage.
Is it better to marry at 20, 30 or 40?
But there is no need for all to marry the first comer, “Someone who marries at 25 is 50% less likely to divorce than someone who marries at 20.” And from 32 onwards “the divorce risk is increased by 5% per year.” Thus, the late twenties seems to be the best time for a romantic commitment.
Note that previous studies to that by Nicholas Wolfinger took other factors into consideration that affect the longevity of a marriage. For instance, another study last year suggested that having too many conquests before passing the ring did no good either. Another research from the University of Pennsylvania had also stressed that the stability of a marriage depended on the household income, but also, and more surprisingly, the number of guests at the ceremony and its overall cost! The verdict? The more you spend, the less the union will last but the more guests you have, the better for the future. We’ll leave it up to you to find the right balance and the right age…!
Gregoire Provost
Photo credit : Getty Images
