WASHINGTON : Couples who wed in their mid 20s have the best
chance of living happily together until death do them part, a new
survey on American marriage found on Thursday.
The results contradict conventional wisdom that partners have the
best chance for a healthy marriage if they wait until their 30s,
researchers said.
Couples who tied the knot between the ages of 23 and 27 stood the
best chance of success, according to a statistical index on the
quality of marriage constructed on data collected by the University
of Texas for the National Fatherhood Initiative.
"Beyond a certain age, later marriage does not improve the success
of the marriage," said Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, of the National
Marriage Project,
commenting on the survey results.
Marriage before the age of 20 has long been regarded at high risk
of divorce, but the survey represents the first statistical
evidence that the optimal age for marriage may lie in the
20s.
The average of age of first marriages in the United States has
slowly been rising, to 27 for men and 26 for women, compared to 23
and 21 in 1970, she said.
University of Texas sociology professor Norval Glenn who conducted
the research said that 98 percent of those questioned were married,
had been married or wanted to marry, suggesting that predictions of
the institution's demise were exaggerated.
"We are a very marrying country," he said.
The survey also found that the top three reasons for divorce in the
United States were lack of commitment, too much arguing and
infidelity.
Conducted among 1,503 Americans aged 18 and older between late 2003
and early 2004, the survey asked questions about attitude and
aspirations towards marriage.
The National Fatherhood Initiative is a non-profit advocacy group,
and was founded in 1994 to address the problem of absent fathers in
society. - AFP/de
