Health Viewpoints
A supportive marriage is one of the greatest blessings in life, yet popular opinion on marriage has declined, notes recent research. Modern film, television, and music seem to obsess over casual romantic encounters, but as people lose sight of the value of marriage, suffering increases.
The longest-running study in the world (which only included men until about a decade ago) finds our relationships are the key determining factor in health and happiness.
“More than cholesterol or blood pressure, the relationships in the men’s lives were the most significant predictor of a healthy, happy life,” writes Epoch Times health reporter Emma Suttie of the Harvard Study of Adult Development.
As single-parent households rise, so too does the stress on single parents—and their children.
A 2021 review published in The Linacre Quarterly found that “average over all studies and measures in both Europe and America, divorce reduced child well-being by about a third of a standard deviation compared to children with intact married parents,” notes Epoch Times health writer Christy Prais.
Of course, keeping a marriage together can be difficult, and sometimes it just isn’t possible to stay with an abusive spouse. But choosing the right person to marry and following certain traditions may help ensure the quality of our marriages.
Experts have different insights on what makes for a healthy marriage but some trends emerge. Psychologist Gad Saad says the most critical elements of a strong marriage are shared values and beliefs.
“It’s overwhelmingly the case that ‘birds of a feather flock together,’” Mr. Saad told Epoch Times health reporter Amy Denney.
That certainly falls in line with the five key lessons Epoch Times contributor Orlean Koehl learned after 54 years of marriage:
- Start the day with scripture reading and prayer together.
- Honor and respect your spouse’s agency.
- Realize who has control over your own emotions (It’s you).
- Validate your spouse.
- Practice the Golden Rule of do unto others as you would have done unto you.
Researchers are also confirming that certain traditions play an important role in the health of our marriages, such as not living together before committing to marriage.
“In relative terms, the marriages of those who moved in together before being engaged were 48% more likely to end than the marriages of those who only cohabited after being engaged or already married,” notes a study by the Institute for Family Studies.
Writing about the study, Timothy S. Goeglein, vice president of Focus on the Family notes that people today seek to cohabitate before marriage as a way of test-driving the relationship but this approach doesn’t grant assurance as much as it weakens commitment.
“It’s faith that provides the perseverance to keep a marriage together when troubles arise,” he writes.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.