The Awesome Benefits Of Marriage: It’s Way More Than What You Think
By Team BLAM
I remember the moment that I realized that marriage is waaaaay more than 2 people coming together because they fell in love. In that moment my outlook was radically changed. The knowledge that I gained in that moment shifted the way I viewed my own marriage, the need for strong families in our community, and the impact we can all have when we learn the skills that are necessary to build solid marriages, families, and communities.
Marriage researchers have determined that having a healthy, happy, fulfilling marriage benefits all family members. Below are marriage statistics from research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Healthy Marriage Initiative. Check them out and be impressed. 😉
Marriage Statistics:
Benefits of Healthy Marriages For Children and Youth
Researchers have found many benefits for children and youth who are raised by parents in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, including the following statistics:
More likely to attend college
More likely to succeed academically
Physically healthier
Emotionally healthier
Less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol
Less likely to commit delinquent behaviors
Less likely to be a victim of physical or sexual abuse
Have a better relationship with their mothers and fathers
Decreases their chances of divorcing when they get married
Less likely to become pregnant as a teenager, or impregnate someone
Less likely to be sexually active as teenagers
Less likely to contract STD’s
Less likely to be raised in poverty
Benefits of a Healthy Marriage for Women
Researchers have found many benefits for women who are in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, including the following statistics:
More satisfying relationship
Emotionally healthier
Wealthier
Less likely to be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crimes
Less likely to attempt or commit suicide
Decrease risk of drug and alcohol abuse
Less likely to contract STD’s
Less likely to remain or end up in poverty
Have better relationships with their children
Physically healthier
Benefits of a Healthy Marriage for Men
Researchers have found many benefits for men who are in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, including the following statistics:
Live longer
Physically healthier
Wealthier
Increase in the stability of employment
Higher wages
Emotionally healthier
Decrease risk of drug and alcohol abuse
Have better relationships with their children
More satisfying sexual relationship
Less likely to commit violent crimes
Less likely to contract STD’s
Less likely to attempt or commit suicide
Benefits of Healthy Marriages for Communities
Researchers have found many benefits for communities when they have a higher percentage of couples in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, including the following statistics:
Higher rates of physically healthy citizens
Higher rates of emotionally healthy citizens
Higher rates of educated citizens
Lower domestic violence rates
Lower crime statistics
Lower teen age pregnancy rates
Lower rates of juvenile delinquency
Higher rates of home ownership
Lower rates of migration
Higher property values
Decreased need for social services
So, what do you think BLAM Fam? Do the benefits of healthy marriage impress you?
Source: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/benefits/index.html
Do you guys have any data to support this argument for marriage?
Some helpful reads are "The Divorce Culture" by Barbara Dafoe Whitehead (kind of a difficult read, but skip over to get to what meets the need), "The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier and Better Off Financially" by Linda J. Waite & Maggie Gallagher, & Progress & Peril: Black Children in America: A Fact Book and Action Primer printed by the Children's Defense Fund (if you want your kids to do well, this one'll scare you straight! It's not about marriage, but nobody's stupid, we all know that kids come from parents, and when our marriage's don't exist, or break up, this is what happens to our kids).
Additional help to get your mind right: Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad by Betty DeRamus (re: how we used to fight hard for what we throw away so easily today). I'd also recommend, "Surrendering to Marriage: Husbands, Wives & Other Imperfections by Iris Krasnow (kind of a book for the ladies, so read it along with your wife/significant other). And finally, "The Love Dare, the companion book to the movie "Fireproof", which is written from a Christian perspective and designed to fix all that's broken by changing your mindset and selfish nature.
I hope this combination is helpful to you regarding the pressing issue of "lack of marriage" in our communities, and how it's hurt our men, women and especially the next generation of our precious children.
Our people perish for lack of knowledge. God bless you brother, as you read.
The greatest gift God gave me is being married to an Awsome husband!
Great benefits, and there are more that the government didn't list! A good marriage is like fine wine……..it only gets better with time! Like a Timex watch (remember those?), it takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin', like peanut butter…….the effects of it stick around and are not easily forgotten (like peanut butter on the roof of your mouth!). Marriage is the recommended way for healthy, wanna be wealthy folks to grow up and do what needs to be done, walk in their calling and help their families and communities. It's the best self-help program I know!
Great article! Lovely photo of the King, his Queen and the little prince. I love articles that promote how great our families are capable of being!!
Love this!
I love this!
Great incentives to get married:) Good post!
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