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Sometimes you may wonder why marriage is so important, especially when many people prefer live-in relationships these days. Marriage is the union of two people in love, looking for companionship. It is a legal commitment that has familial, social, and economic implications. This is the declaration of your love and devotion to your partner and affirms lifelong commitment in front of near and dear ones. Marriage is a key foundation of society, offering a stable structure for families and creating a nurturing environment for raising children. In addition, many believe that communities get better when people enter into marriage and stay together. In this post, we discuss the importance of marriage and its benefits to partners and society as a whole. Read on.
What Is Marriage?
Marriage, also known as matrimony or wedlock, is a socially and legally acknowledged partnership between two individuals referred to as spouses. This union establishes rights and obligations for the partners, as well as with their children (if any) and their in-laws. A legally and culturally recognized connection, marriage involves emotional, social, and often religious commitments between two individuals. It represents a blend of love and a sincere commitment, where two people promise to support each other throughout life’s journey. This marital bond transcends friendship, uniting hearts and creating a lifelong partnership. Recognition of marriage can come from various entities such as a state, organization, religious authority, tribal group, local community, or peers.
15 Reasons Marriage Is Important
Marriage rate amongst women in the US
The marriage rate among unmarried women in the United States has been on a decline for the past 40 years. However, data from the American Community Survey (ACS) shows that this downward trend saw a slight reversal in 2019, as there was an increase in the number of marriages compared to those recorded in 2010. The following graph illustrates the marriage trend among unmarried women in the US.
Marriage rate amongst women in the US (1970-2019)
Source: Marriage Rate in the U.S.: Geographic Variation, 2019; National Center for Health Statistics/U.S. Census Bureau, American Community SurveyMarriage can present challenges, but it is essential to focus on matrimony’s positive aspects and consider trying it. Below are some reasons why marriage is important and can be worthwhile.
- Marks a new beginning: Marriage entails lifetime commitment and loyalty, allowing you to care for your partner and your family selflessly. Matrimony marks the beginning of a special bond wherein you connect with your partner physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This commitment deepens the connection between partners and serves as a positive role model for children, teaching them important values like love, respect, and responsibility.
- Brings oneness: Marriage means togetherness where you and your partner work as a team, have shared responsibilities and celebrate milestones and successes and rise to challenges together. It is a journey of personal and spiritual growth in which you share your emotions, feelings, and most importantly intimacy and affection with your spouse.
According to Mitch Massman, a blogger, sharing your experiences with someone for the rest of your life is truly special. He says, “I am not saying that you ‘must’ be married to be happy; if you are happy being single, by all means, keep doing your thing. What I am saying is that being married has allowed me to be the best version of myself. It has allowed me and my wife to have someone to lean on in the most trying moments in our young lives (i).”
- Benefits both the partners: Marriage facilitates mutual growth and social bonding, and improves economic standing and social capital. Economic and social ramifications typically benefit not only partners, but other family members, and the community.
Massman says that marriage entails a continuous journey of mutual growth and improvement. He adds, “My wife and I are constantly supporting each other’s careers, encouraging each other even when the unknown is terrifying, and always looking for ways to help each other become better professionals and humans.”
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- Makes you happier: The benefits or joys of single life may be overrated. Experts believe that there are several benefits of marriage. It improves health and financial stability. A study using data from 17 developed nations has shown that being married was associated with higher happiness levels relative to cohabitation, and marriage increases happiness equally among men and women (1).
- Improves life expectancy: Proponents of marriage believe that married people live longer and healthier lives. Statisticians Bernard Cohen and I-Sing Lee compiled a catalog of mortality risks, including marital status, occupational risks, socioeconomic factors, geography, diseases, substance abuse, and various other factors. They concluded that being unmarried is one of the most significant health risks that people voluntarily subject themselves to (2).
- Keeps your heart healthy: A meta-analysis of 34 studies involving more than two million participants showed that unmarried people were at a 42% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 16% higher risk of developing coronary artery disease than married people (3). Interestingly, married people have the lowest incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease (4).
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- Benefits children: Parenting is exciting as well as challenging for couples as it involves building a family. Experts believe that children gain more when they grow up in households in which both parents live. Long-term studies have observed that children living with their biological, married parents have better physical, emotional, and academic well-being (4).
Point to consider- Offers economic stability: Many people may believe that being married brings financial obligations. However, experts believe that this partnership in life not only makes more money but also manages it better as it comes with a lot of legal benefits. A study of 76 middle-class couples from a rural midwestern county showed that married people are less likely to report economic hardships (5).
- Keeps you sane: Being married improves your mental health. On the whole, single people experience less social support, which has been associated with higher depression rates, loneliness, and social isolation (6).
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- Provides emotional security: People look for emotional support and security in their relationships. When you share your life with a partner, you become more comfortable sharing your aspirations, struggles, emotions and feelings. It facilitates the development of personal values.
- Increases fidelity: Studies highlighting lifetime-engagement estimates of infidelity have shown that around 20% of married couples and approximately 70% of unmarried couples are engaged in extra-relational affairs (7). Risk factors for infidelity include low relationship commitment or decreasing sexual or relationship satisfaction (7).
- May save your life: Experts believe that marriage is associated with a lower risk of mortality in adults. Various studies have demonstrated that the chances of survival after major surgeries, such as cardiac surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), may be better among married people than unmarried people (8), (9).
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- Helps accumulate more money: It has been demonstrated that the longer men stay married, the greater the accumulation of wealth. Interestingly, a married man in his fifties may have three times the assets than his unmarried counterpart (10).
- Improves sexual intimacy: Experts believe that women are four times as likely as men to make love a requirement or enter into an intimate relationship for having sex. Men are also more likely to experience sexual satisfaction when they are in a long-term, lasting relationship (10).
- Makes the community better: It has been observed that married people have more civic responsibility and are more likely to volunteer in community service. In addition, they are more likely to be involved in schools and churches (4).
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are red flags in a marriage?
Red flags are signs that may go unobserved and may lead to negative consequences in the long run. They could be fading love, lack of communication, lack of trust, jealousy, distress, physical, emotional, or substance abuse, and violence.
2. Why is communication so important in a marriage?
Better communication leads to respect for each other, offering more satisfaction in a relationship where you talk about everything, and consequently fewer arguments or disagreements. In any relationship, communication is crucial because it enables you to express your thoughts, intentions, feelings, and expectations clearly.
3. What are the three pillars of marriage?
The three pillars commonly referred to in marriage could be love, respect, and communication. These pillars form the foundation of a healthy and successful marital relationship.
4. Is marriage a leap of faith?
Marriage is a leap of faith that requires trust, vulnerability, and a willingness to commit to a lifelong partnership. Two people consciously decide to join their lives with utmost belief in each other and share responsibilities, dreams, and challenges.
5. What are some religious and spiritual reasons marriage is considered an important commitment in many faiths?
In many cultures, marriage is considered a sacred union between two souls blessed by a higher power. Marriage is also viewed as a way to honor and follow the religious teachings and principles related to relationships, love, and family, and it is often associated with procreation and the establishment of a family unit.
6. How can couples strengthen their marriage?
Couples can strengthen their marriage by talking openly with each other, spending quality time together, and facing challenges as a team. Joining counseling or workshops can also help them learn important skills for a healthy relationship.
While getting married is a personal decision, several things may help you understand “why marriage is so important.” Marriage benefits a person’s emotional, social, economic, physical, and mental well-being. When a couple commits to marriage, they feel more secure together. Additionally, it increases your life expectancy and has been scientifically proven to promote heart health, as well as help children and society. While today’s youth increasingly shows the tendency to live alone, independently, or in a live-in relationship, it is critical to remind them of the beauty and benefits of marriage. Encouraging conversations about the value of marriage can help young adults better understand the long-term benefits of commitment and partnership.
Infographic: How To Know That You Are Ready For Marriage?
Marriage is considered a lifetime commitment that requires preparedness. Deciding to get married may be difficult, even for couples already in a relationship. The infographic below may clear some of your self-doubts by introducing you to the signs that indicate you are ready for marriage. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Marriage unites people and symbolizes the start of a new chapter in their lives.
- It makes you happier, boosts your life expectancy and is oddly scientifically proven to make your heart healthy.
- Marriage also provides economic and emotional stability and is good for the society too since married couples have a strong sense of responsibility.
Illustration: Reasons Why Marriage Is Important In Your Life
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Discover the significance of marriage in your life. Explore its benefits, companionship, support, and emotional fulfillment. Learn why marriage matters and how it can positively impact your well-being and happiness.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Being married is the greatest thing in my lifehttps://moochmassman.medium.com/being-married-is-the-greatest-thing-in-my-life-29359763dfd2
References
1. Stack, S. and Eshleman, J. R. Marital status and happiness: A 17-nation study; Journal of Marriage and the Family (1998).
2. Cohen, B. L. and Lee, I. S. A catalog of risks; Health Physics (1979).
3. Wong, C. W., et al.; Marital status and risk of cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis; Heart, (2018).
4. Anderson J; The impact of family structure on the health of children: Effects of divorce: The Linacre Quarterly (2014).
5. Conger, R. D., et al.;. Linking Economic Hardship to Marital Quality and Instability; Journal of Marriage and the Family (1990).
6. Shmerling, R.H.; The health advantages of marriage; Harvard Health Publishing (2016).
7. Knopp, K., et al.;. Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Serial Infidelity Across Subsequent Relationships; Archives of Sexual Behavior (2017).
8. King, K. B. and Reis, H. T.; Marriage and long-term survival after coronary artery bypass grafting; Health Psychology (2012).
9. Idler, E. L., Boulifard, D. A., and Contrada, R. J.; Mending broken hearts: marriage and survival following cardiac surgery; Journal of Health and Social Behavior (2012).
10. Wolfinger, NH. and Wilcox, W.B. Men & Marriage: Debunking the Ball and Chain Myth: Institute for Family Studies.
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