By Ana Rodriguez Soto - Florida Catholic newspaper
MIAMI | Do belief in God and practice of the faith make a difference in married couples’ lives? Yes, according to statistics from a number of sources:
- Putting “God at the center” of marriage increases happiness in marriage by 26 percent (The National Marriage Project, “State of Our Unions: Marriage in America 2011”)
- 73 percent of couples who attend church weekly reported being “very happy” in their marriage, versus 52 percent of those who never or almost never attend church (2001 Baselines Statewide Survey on Marriage and Divorce, Oklahoman Department of Human Services)
- Couples who live together before marriage have a 46 percent greater risk of divorce than couples who do not live together before marriage. (Marriage and the Family in the United States: Resources for Society, 10)
And these statistics from The National Marriage Project, “State of Our Unions: Marriage in America 2012,” list the factors that impact the probability of divorce. The number represents the decrease in the risk of divorce for individuals who:
- Have an annual income of over $50,000 (vs. under $25,000) = 30 percent decrease
- Have a baby seven months or more after marriage (vs. before) = 24 percent decrease
- Marry over age 25 (vs. under 18) = 24 percent decrease
- Have an intact family of origin (vs. divorced parents) = 14 percent decrease
- Have a religious affiliation (vs. none) = 14 percent decrease
- Have attended college (vs. high school dropout) = 25 percent decrease.
The study concludes: “So if you are a reasonably well-educated person with a decent income, come from an intact family and are religious, and marry after age 25 without having a baby first, your chances of divorce are very low indeed.”
See related stories:
- Marriage prep as faith formation: Archdiocese updates guidelines to strengthen engaged couples’ relationship with the Church
- A marriage, not just a wedding: Premarital program helps archdiocesan couples become 'Fully Engaged'
- Two annulments and a wedding: After 23 years, couple marries sacramentally
- Marriage in groups: simple, elegant, affordable
- 'It's not about what's shiny': Young couple looks back to ancient betrothal to prioritize sacramental nature of marriage
