Psychology Faculty Publications
Is There the “Sweet Spot” for Age at Marriage and Positive Marital Outcomes?
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-6-2017
Journal Title
Journal of Family Issues
Volume
39
Issue
4
First Page
1085
Last Page
1107
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X16686135
Abstract
Using three nationally representative data sets, researchers analyzed the trends in age at marriage, marital stability, and marital satisfaction across the 20th century. Although there is a well-established link between age at marriage and marital stability, less is understood about the link between age at marriage and marital satisfaction. Previous work in this area suggested that it is the absolute age at first marriage that makes a difference. This study examined this hypothesis as well as a second hypothesis that cultural expectations about the “right” age to marry make a difference. Neither hypothesis was completely supported. Trends in normed marital satisfaction scores varied by birth cohort, years married, and age at marriage in nonlinear ways. Implications for relationship educators and practitioners are discussed.
Keywords
Age, marriage, psychology, satisfaction, stability
Recommended Citation
Bartle-Haring, Suzanne; Shannon, Samuel; Holowacz, Eugene; Patton, Rikki; and Younkin, Felisha L., "Is There the “Sweet Spot” for Age at Marriage and Positive Marital Outcomes?" (2017). Psychology Faculty Publications. 221.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/psychology_publications/221
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
