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Publication #FAR3029

What Is a Healthy Marriage?1

Suzanna Smith2

Americans have an affinity for a love story that ends with the couple "exchanging wedding vows and going on to live happily ever after" (Moore et al., 2004, p. 1). If only it were so easy.

Although most research has shown that most people want to be married, the country's high divorce rate has shown us that just being married doesn't mean a couple is happily married. What is a healthy marriage?

The nonprofit research center Child Trends reviewed decades' of research studies and identified key elements of a healthy marriage. First and most important is commitment to the partnership, where the couple intends to keep going, even when difficulties arise (Moore et al., 2004).

In addition, the couple communicates in a positive way—with respect, humor, and willingness to compromise. When they disagree or face problems, they are able to resolve conflict. They are not violent toward each other or their children (Moore et al., 2004).

Another characteristic of a healthy marriage is fidelity. Couples are satisfied with their relationship, and spend quality time together, enjoying each other's company. They share physical affection and intimacy and also give each other emotional support. They are committed to any children they have, whether biological offspring, step-children, or adopted children, and offer these children a long-term legal relationship free of serious conflict (Moore et al., 2004)

Keep in mind that this research has been done on married couples. Many of these characteristics may also apply to intimate relationships other than marriage.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our Web site at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

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Reference

Moore, K. A., Jekielek, S., Bronte-Tinkew, J., Guzman, L., Ryan, S., & Redd, A. (2004). What is "healthy marriage"? Defining the concept. Child Trends Research Brief #2004-16. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from http://www.childtrends.org/Files/CT_HealthyMarriage.pdf.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR3029, one of a series of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published April 2009. In the interest of time or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Suzanna Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.