10 facts to know before getting married

Marrying after age 23 reduces the risk of divorce

A 2014 study by the University of North Carolina found that among American women who cohabited or married at age 18, the divorce rate was 60%. However, among the group that waited until age 23 to get married, the rate dropped to 30%.

"The longer couples delay marriage until a certain age, the greater their chances of having a fulfilling life after marriage," The Atlantic reported.

Love is what keeps a marriage together, not strict standards.

According to a 2019 survey by online matchmaking service eHarmony, couples who marry for love are generally happier than those who marry out of social or material pressure.

The survey also found that couples who share similar political views, are on par with each other in terms of education, and have trust and open communication also have happier marriages.

The love stage only lasts the first year.

A 2005 study by the University of Pavia in Italy found that romantic, passionate feelings only last for the first year, then gradually decrease. However, this is an important time for couples to lay the foundation and maintain their marriage for the following years.

The first year of marriage can be wonderful, but it can also be terrible if you have different views and lifestyles. The advice for newlyweds is to focus on building your marriage, learning to share and accept each other.

The passionate phase of love can end after a year, forcing young couples to make choices about their future. Illustration: Weddingstats

The smaller the age gap, the more sustainable the marriage is.

A 2015 study of 3,000 previously married Americans found that age differences correlated with marital conflict. The study found that couples with a one-year age difference had a 3% higher risk of divorce (compared to couples of the same age); a five-year age difference increased the likelihood of separation by more than 18%, and if there was a 10-year age difference, the risk increased to more than 39%.

Sharing housework is the key to keeping a marriage strong

More than 60% of Americans in a poll said that housework plays an important role in a happy marriage. A 2015 study from the University of Alberta also found that couples who regularly shared housework reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction than families who left the work to just one person.

The more financially dependent, the more likely to cheat on your partner

Contrary to the belief that only the wealthy are more likely to cheat, the link between income and infidelity is more nuanced.

Research from the University of Connecticut (USA) shows that a man who is financially dependent on his wife/husband is more likely to be unfaithful. This is especially true if the man is financially dependent on his wife.

Financial conflicts warn of difficult marriage

This is not a topic that should be discussed before marriage, but being clear about money and agreeing on shared and separate assets early on can help you avoid unnecessary conflict. A 2013 study by researchers at Kansas State University (USA) found that arguments related to money are the leading predictor of divorce.

To avoid arguments or disillusionment after marriage, couples need to discuss this issue before deciding to get married.

Men benefit from marriage

A large survey of more than 127,000 American adults found that married men are generally healthier and live longer than those who are single, divorced or widowed.

You can't change someone through marriage.

If you think time can help change the imperfect parts of your partner, think again, because the person you marry cannot be the same as the model in your imagination.

Relationship coach Mindy Uaty once said, "We are hopelessly idealistic about our ability to change others. Changing someone is hard and shouldn't be expected." This means you need to learn to live effectively, accept your flaws, and work together to fix them.

Divorce can be contagious

In fact, stories about your friends and family's marriages can influence other people's love lives. Research published in the journal Social Forces in 2013 found that divorce can spread among friends and family, causing singles or those in relationships to have a negative view of marriage.

"The stories and problems that divorced people share not only affect their friends, but may also affect their friends' friends because this trend is becoming more widespread," the study said.

According to VnExpress