Benefits of Marriage

I came across an interesting article from Catholic Match Institute that gives a fascinating summary of the benefits spouses and children receive from a lasting marriage. The list of these benefits comes from academic journals and institutes that have done longitudinal studies on the effects of marriage.  I believe these benefits are a great blessing to the family and I would like to share them with you.

Husbands & wives

Married men and women are generally healthier and live longer lives than their single peers.[1]

“The norms of adult maturity and fidelity associated with marriage encourage men and women to avoid unhealthy or risky behaviors—from promiscuous sex to heavy alcohol use.”[2]

“Happily married adults report fewer depressive symptoms than all other marital groups.”[3]; and especially for women, marriage combats depression, provides particularly high psychological benefits and significantly lowers the risk of suicide.[4]

Husband and wife are more economically stable than their unmarried peers. Contemporary married couples with children earn a median annual income of $67,670.00 as compared to single-parent families with a median annual income of $24,408.00.[5]

Typically, the capacity of a married couple’s household exceeds that of a single-parent household by nearly three times the amount in income.[6]

Children

Research suggests that the best source of emotional stability and good physical health for children is the stable, happy marriage of the mother and father.[7]

Children raised in intact married families are more likely to attend college, are physically and emotionally healthier than their peers raised in non-married families.[8]

Children receive gender specific support from having a mother and a father. Research shows that particular roles of mothers (e.g., to nurture) and fathers (e.g., to discipline), as well as complex biologically rooted interactions, are important for the psychological development of boys and girls.[9]

Children from stable, married families are significantly less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse, and thoughts of suicide compared to children from divorced homes.[10]

“The rate of virginity among teenagers at all ages is highly correlated with the presence or absence of married parents.[11]

Here is the link if you are interested in learning more.

https://www.catholicmatch.com/institute/2012/03/a-summary-of-the-benefits-of-marriage/