When people list the benefits of marriage, they often list the advantages for the children. The kids are happier. They’re more stable. Children of divorce, on the other hand, are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, have sex, become pregnant, and attempt suicide.
Yes, marriage is good for the children, but it’s also good for the spouses as well. Marriage promotes the health, wealth, and well-being of adults and communities. For adults, the case for lifelong marriage has been framed in moral, spiritual, and emotional terms.
It is often overestimated that divorce will lead to greater happiness for a person. Sometimes it will, but in some cases, it will not. Many people, particularly older women, end up with lifelong financial issues after a divorce. They never get ahead on their own without some form of support from their ex-spouse, such as alimony.
Humans are social creatures. We are not designed to be alone. In fact, married people do much better than single or divorced people in many ways. They live longer and are healthier and happier overall. They also live more affluent lives.
Marriage makes a big difference in the lives of people. If you are contemplating whether or not to get married, keep in mind that marriage comes with many benefits. Here are some reasons why marriage may be the right choice for you.
Marriage is Safer
Marriage lowers the risk that both men and women will become victims of domestic violence. Single and divorced women are as much as five times more likely to be victims of violence in any given year than those who are married. In regards to men, they were four times more likely to be victims of violent crimes if they were single rather than married. However, that is not to say that those who are married are from physical abuse. Domestic violence can happen in any romantic situation.
Marriage Makes You Live Longer
Statistics show that married people live longer and healthier lives. The health effects of marriage are particularly evident in late middle age. A study showed that 9 out of 10 married men who are alive at 48 will make it to age 65. For men who are single, the rate is just 6 out of 10. For women, marriage offers some protective benefits, but men reap more of the longevity advantages. Nine out of 10 wives alive at age 48 will make it to age 65, compared to 8 out of 10 divorced and single women.
Researchers say that being unmarried is one of the greatest risks that people voluntarily subject themselves to. For example, having heart disease reduces a man’s life expectancy by about six years, while being unmarried takes almost 10 years off a man’s life. Even divorced people, who have been married before, show much lower levels of immune function years after the divorce.
Marriage Improves Mental Health
If you are in a happy marriage, it will improve your mental health. Married men and women tend to be depressed and less anxious than those who are single, divorced, or widowed. While getting divorced may make you happier if you are in a bad marriage, divorce tends to increase depression and hostility overall and lower one’s sense of purpose in life.
Researchers tracked individuals who moved toward marriage, and while happy, healthy people do marry, getting married gives people a powerful mental health boost. When people married, their mental health improved substantially. When people divorced, their mental and emotional well-being declined and they saw increases in depression.
Marriage also keeps you alive. Men and women who are married are much less likely to commit suicide than those who are single, divorced, or widowed.
Marriage Helps You Earn More Money
While many people tend to think of marriage as a financial burden, marriage is actually a productive institution, especially for men. Some studies show that getting married may increase a man’s salary by about as much as a college education. This is because married men make as much as 40% more money than single men, even when accounting for factors such as job history and education. The longer a man stays married, the more money he earns. For women, earnings also increase with marriage, but they decrease once children enter the picture.
When Marriage is Not Good for You
Marriage is not always sunshine and rainbows. A marriage, like any other relationship, can be toxic. When the marriage does not improve over time, and the couple stays together, it can seriously affect a person’s mental and emotional health.
According to research, people in bad marriages are generally unhappy. They struggle with low self-esteem as well as anxiety and depression. Their immune system does not work as well, so they have a higher rate of illness than those who are happily married.
Many people are afraid to let go of their marriages. They do not want to deal with the grief and sadness. However, those who divorce do recover emotionally. Most even find new relationships, with 85% of them remarrying within five years.
Seek Legal Help
Marriage can be a great thing for the right couple, but when a relationship goes bad, it can be unhealthy. Do not kill yourself to save your marriage.
Marriage should make you happy. If it does not, contact Broward County divorce attorney Scott J. Stadler right away. We can help you move on with your life so you can find the fulfilling relationship you deserve. Schedule a consultation today by calling (954) 346-6464 or filling out the online form.