Marriage Facts

MARRIAGE

• 85% of the U.S. population will marry at least once. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)
• Age at marriage has been on the increase for more than four decades. In 1960, the median age for a first marriage was 22.8 years for men and 20.3 for women. In 2005 the median age for first marriage was 27 years for men and 26 years for women. (Popenoe & Whitehead, 2004)
• The average age for remarriage is 36 for men and 33 for women. (Turvey & Olson, 2006)
• Americans have become less likely to marry with a decline of 50% from 1970-2004. Factors include marrying later, cohabitation, and decreased tendency of divorced persons to remarry. (Whitehead, 2006)

FAMILY STRUCTURE IS BECOMING MORE COMPLEX

• Single-parent families rose to an all-time high in 2005 to 37% of families. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)
• The percentage of two-parent families varies by ethnic/cultural group: 87% of Asian children live in two-parent homes; 76% of Caucasians; 70% of Hispanics; and 42% of African American. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)
• 30% of all children in the U.S. will spend at least some time in a stepfamily. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)

COHABITATION

• More than half of all couples cohabit before marriage. The number of cohabiting couples has increased 800% since the 1960's, when fewer than 500,000 couples were cohabiting. In 2005, according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, 5.5 million couples were cohabiting.
• Compared with couples who did not cohabit before marriage, those who did had more frequent conflicts.
• Compared with couples who did not cohabit before marriage, those who did were more likely to feel they might separate.
• Couples who cohabited before marrying were more likely to resort to heated arguments, hitting, and throwing objects in marriage conflict.
• Remarried spouses who had cohabited prior to their marriage perceived less stability in their marriage than their peers who had not cohabited. ("Effects of Cohabitation Length on Personal and Relational Well Being" Hill, John R., & Evans, Sharon G. Alabama Policy Institute Vol. API Study, Number. August, 2006 (pp 1-13).

DIVORCE

• There were 2.3 million marriages and 1.2 million divorces in 2005. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)
• Almost 20 million Americans—about 9.9% of the U.S. population—are currently divorced. ( U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)
• The American divorce rate is between 40% - 50%. It has doubled since 1960 but declined overall since 1980. (Whitehead, 2006)
• The majority of divorced persons eventually remarry. (Whitehead, 2006)
• Unhappily married adults who divorced were no happier than unhappily married adults who stayed married. (Waite, Browning, Doherty, Gallagher, Luo, & Stanley, 2002)
• Divorce does not, on average, decrease depression, increase self-esteem, or increase sense of mastery. (Waite, et al, 2002)
• 74% of divorces happen to adults who have been happily married, on average, for five years previously. (Waite, et al, 2002)
• 93% of unhappy spouses who avoided divorce reported no violence in their marriage five years later. (Waite, et al, 2002)
• Two out of three unhappily married adults who avoided divorce and separation ended up happily married 5 years later. (Waite, et al, 2002)

DIVORCE AND THE WORKPLACE

• Divorce in the USA costs taxpayers and estimated $30billion annually. (Schramm, 2006)
• A 1996 study showed that approximately $6billion is lost by American businesses annually stemming from marriage and relationship difficulties. (Forthofer, Markman, Cox, Stanley & Kessler, 1996)
• 25% of affairs in the workplace related to failing relationships, lead to decreased productivity. (Corporate Resource Council, 2002)
• People marrying today have a 50% chance of divorcing.Statistically, 40% of first marriages, 60% of second, and 73% of third marriages end in divorce. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)
• Stress-related issues cost Corporate America $300billion annually. (Valesquez-Manoff, 2005)

STRONG MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES

• A large national sample (n=21,501) of married couples who completed a couple inventory (ENRICH) found the top five categories most predictive of marital happiness were:Communication, Flexibility, Couple Closeness, Personality Compatibility and Conflict Skills (Olson & Olson, 2000)
• Researchers have identified key characteristics of healthy families that are usually missing from problem families. They include: Connectedness, Flexibility, Social and economic resources, Clarity, Open emotional expression, Positive outlook and Spirituality. (Walsh, 1998)

• A 2005 study found that frequent family dinners were associated with lower rates of teen smoking, drinking, and drug use. (The National Center of Addiction and Drug Abuse at Columbia University, 2005)

• Married people enjoy better health, longer lives, more satisfying sex, more wealth, and their children do better emotionally and academically. (Waite & Gallagher, 2001)

MARRIAGE SATISFACTION

• Unhappily married couples are four times more likely to have a partner abusing alcohol than happily married couples. (Whisman, Uebelacker, & Bruce 2006)

• Marriage benefits for men include
• Live longer
• Physically healthier
• Wealthier
• Increased employment stability
• Higher wages
• Emotionally healthier
• Decreased risk of drug and alcohol abuse
• Better relationships with their children
• More satisfying sexual relationship
• Less likely to commit violent crimes
• Less likely to contract sexually transmitted disease
• Less likely to attempt or commit suicide (Administration for Children & Families, Washington, D.C., 2007)

• Marriage benefits for women include
• More satisfying relationship
• Emotionally healthier
• Wealthier
• Less likely to be victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or violent crime
• Less likely to attempt or commit suicide
• Decreased risk of drug and alcohol abuse
• Less likely to contract sexually transmitted disease
• Less likely to remain or end up in poverty
• Have better relationships with their children
• Physically healthier