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Factors in long-term marriages.

R H Lauer, J C Lauer

    Journal of Family Issues
    |December 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Happy marriages prioritize relationship quality, while unhappy or mixed marriages often cite commitment or children as reasons for staying together. This study explores marital longevity factors in long-term U.S. couples.

    Area of Science:

    • Social Sciences
    • Psychology
    • Sociology

    Background:

    • Marital longevity is a significant area of research within relationship psychology.
    • Understanding the factors contributing to long-term marriages is crucial for relationship counseling and societal well-being.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the differing reasons why couples stay together in happy, unhappy, and mixed-satisfaction marriages.
    • To identify key predictors of marital persistence among long-term married couples in the United States.

    Main Methods:

    • A nonrandom sample of 351 U.S. couples married for 15 years or more was surveyed.
    • Participants reported their reasons for marital continuation, categorized by relationship satisfaction levels (happy, unhappy, mixed).
    Keywords:
    Age FactorsAmericasBehaviorChildDemographic FactorsDeveloped CountriesDeveloping CountriesEmotionsFamily And HouseholdMarriageMarriage DurationMarriage PatternsNorth AmericaNorthern AmericaNuptialityPerceptionPopulationPopulation CharacteristicsPopulation DynamicsPsychological FactorsResearch ReportSatisfactionTime FactorsUnited StatesYouth

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    Main Results:

    • Happy couples most frequently cited the perceived quality of the relationship and commitment as reasons for staying married.
    • Unhappy and mixed-satisfaction couples primarily cited commitment, with children being a significant factor for 19% of mixed and 47% of unhappy couples.
    • Relationship quality was a more prominent reason for staying together in happy marriages compared to those with lower satisfaction.

    Conclusions:

    • The perceived nature of the relationship is a primary driver for marital satisfaction and longevity in happy marriages.
    • Commitment and children play a more substantial role in maintaining marriages with lower levels of satisfaction.
    • Marital persistence is influenced by a complex interplay of relationship dynamics, personal beliefs, and familial responsibilities.