A recent Australian study reveals that certain factors are essential for a happy and lasting marriage. Beyond love, elements such as age gap, financial status, and lifestyle habits all influence whether couples can grow old together.
Reuters reported on the 14th that researchers from the Australian National University tracked nearly 2,500 married couples or unmarried cohabiting partners from 2001 to 2007, identifying factors influencing relationship longevity.
One factor is the age gap between partners. The study found that couples where the husband is nine years older than the wife have twice the divorce rate compared to others.
The second factor is children. Among those surveyed, couples who had children before marriage or from previous relationships had a 20% divorce rate, while those who had children after marriage had a 9% divorce rate.
The third factor is financial status. If the couple faced financial difficulties or the husband was unemployed, 16% ultimately separated. Among those with better financial circumstances, only 9% separated.
Other factors affecting marital longevity include parental marital status and whether the partner smokes.
The number of children born after marriage, their ages, the wife's employment status, and the couple's combined work experience showed no significant impact on marital duration.