A successful marriage is correlated with having money, children and also, the time couples date prior to marriage. Another predictor to marital success is marrying someone your own age. In fact, the closer you and your spouse are in birth years may predict if your marriage lasts.
Studies link increasing age differences to increased percentages of divorce. For example, if there is a one year discrepancy between the ages of a couple, their risk for divorce is increased by 3% when comparing to same-age counterparts. 5 years of difference makes couples 18 percent more likely to call it quits and a 10 year difference makes couples 39 percent more likely to divorce. Once you take the leap into a 20 or 30 year age difference, the marriage success-rate plummets.
There are a number of reasons age difference might be hard on a marriage. People of different generations come with unique life experiences and cultural reference points. It may just boil down to couples being out of sync.
Of course, there are obviously exceptions to age differences taking a toll on marriage – some couples beat the odds despite coming from different generations. However, research seems to support the best odds for a lasting marriage translates into marrying someone your own age.
If you are considering an Illinois divorce and would like information regarding spousal maintenance, child custody and support, or property division settlements, contact the Law Offices of Schlesinger & Strauss, LLC. for help.
Source: theatlantic.com, “For a Lasting Marriage, Try Marrying Someone Your Own Age”, by Megan Garber, accessed January 22, 2014.
