- A recent study conducted by sociologist Nick Wolfinger at the University of Utah suggests to get married between the ages of twenty-eight and thirty-two (lower likelihood of divorce)
- This age range allows individuals to make more informed decisions about marriage, achieve financial stability, and develop essential personal qualities, reducing the risk of marrying for the wrong reasons.
- However, there is debate among sociologists, with some proposing different age ranges for the ideal time to marry, and the difficulty of measuring divorce accurately in the United States due to factors like non-collection of data and the rise of cohabitation without formal marriage certificates adds complexity to the issue.
A recent study appears to have deciphered the enigma that has long perplexed South Asian culture: the ideal age to get married
Surprisingly, the findings suggest that one should wait until reaching the age of twenty-eight. Undoubtedly, one can already envision the disapproving whispers of the local gossipmongers.
Research conducted at the University of Utah by sociologist Nick Wolfinger reveals that individuals who marry between the ages of twenty-eight and thirty-two experience fewer divorces in the subsequent years.
While speculation has abounded regarding the relationship between delayed marriage and stability, this study marks the first instance of concrete evidence supporting this notion.
By scrutinizing data spanning from 2006 to 2010, as well as from 2011 to 2013 from the National Survey of Family Growth, Wolfinger asserts, “The likelihood of divorce diminishes as one progresses from adolescence through their late twenties and early thirties,” he goes on to state, “However, the probability of divorce rises once more as individuals enter their late thirties and early forties.”
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In retrospect, this conclusion appears logical. The period in one’s late twenties to early thirties allows for introspection, enabling individuals to discern whether their decision to marry is driven by genuine affection or societal pressure, a dilemma often encountered in our culture.
This age bracket also provides the opportunity to achieve financial independence and to develop essential personal qualities. Additionally, it reduces the chances of encountering a grown man who requires lessons in basic hygiene – a hope shared by many.
Nonetheless, the sociologist suggests that a selection bias may come into play as individuals age. He posits, “Those who opt for marriage in their thirties may not possess the predisposition for successful marriages,” and continues, “Individuals who marry later may be selecting from a pool of potential partners excluding those with a higher propensity for marital success.”
Contrary to these findings, other sociologists remain sceptical. Phillip Cohen from the University of Maryland uses data from the American Community Survey to propose an entirely different timeframe, suggesting that individuals between the ages of forty-five and forty-nine have the lowest risk of divorce if they choose to marry.
While it is evident that a definitive statistical analysis remains elusive due to the differing conclusions of these two studies, it is important to acknowledge the challenge of measuring divorce accurately, particularly in the United States. Many states opt not to collect such data, further compounded by the growing trend of cohabitation without formal marriage certificates, making any assessment of separation, let alone success, a formidable task.
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