The Marriage Potential
When people ask why I do what I do, it is hard to sum up my passion for marriage therapy and education in a 3 minute elevator speech. So, I have whittled it down to one sentence. . .
Because I think good marriages are the answer to the world’s problems.
Ok. . . that probably sounds a little dramatic. But, the truth is, I actually believe it!
Here’s why. . .
Healthy marriages positively impact PHYSICAL HEALTH
Let’s start with physical health. Good marriages are linked to better physical health. Research has shown that marriage not only encourages healthier behaviors, less alcohol and drug consumption, shorter hospital stays, fewer doctors’ visits, and more preventative health behaviors, it actually boosts people’s immune systems, making them less likely to get sick and more able to manage and recover from illness. Being married has been shown to correlate with living longer. Married people are also more likely to have access to quality health insurance to support a healthy lifestyle. Good marriages are associated with better health outcomes and more satisfying lives!
Healthy Marriages positively impact MENTAL HEALTH
Healthy marriages also decrease mental health symptoms. People in satisfying marriages have less symptoms of depression and anxiety and lower levels of psychological stress than unmarried or divorced individuals. Having a trusting, supportive spouse can increase life satisfaction and serve as a buffer against emotional stressors that could develop into pervasive mental health challenges.
Healthy marriages raise HEALTHY CHILDREN
Couples in healthy marriages have a greater chance of producing healthy children, creating an intergenerational propensity toward better overall health in society. Research has shown that children of couples in healthy marriages have better physical health and increased life longevity. These children also attain better socioeconomic stability, engage in less risk-taking behaviors, and achieve higher educational levels. More so, children of healthy couples model their parents’ healthy behaviors and healthy coping mechanisms; have improved self esteem; have more access to support and resources; and are more likely to use effective social skills. All of these factors contribute to the likelihood that they, in turn, will replicate healthy relationships with their own respective spouses and raise healthy children. Your grandchildren, in turn, will have additional buffers to manage and hopefully reduce physical, mental, and social stressors.
Healthy Marriage increase FINANCIAL STABILITY
Married couples are likely to be more economically stable, and many times, financially prosperous. Two income households allow for increased access to resources and services, which could help to buffer problems while increasing social and community supports. Children are less likely to experience poverty or utilize social welfare programs. Even in one income families with a stay-at-home parent, children often have the advantages of more direct access to a parent, positive role modeling, supportive care, and secure attachment.
Healthy marriages support HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Healthy marriages improve communities. Barbara Whitehead from Rutgers University, stated in a U.S. Senate testimony, “Marriage is a ‘seedbed’ of prosocial behavior that fosters social connections, civil and religious involvement, and charitable giving. Marriage connects men and women to the larger community and encourages personal responsibility, family commitment, community voluntarism, and social altruism.” It can be assumed that individuals in healthy marriages promote and model healthy behaviors not only for their children, but also in their social circles, work places, clubs and organizations, and communities. Healthy couples and families are the building blocks of productive, vibrant, and nurturing communities.
Healthy marriages produce even healthier FUTURE GENERATIONS
A couple’s relationship forms the foundation of a family. If you build a healthy foundation, it not only promotes the physical and mental health of the individuals, it also nurtures the health of offspring. The healthy family also contributes to the health of the social circles and community they are engaged in. As communities become stronger, they influence and support neighboring communities. Healthy communities provide resources and support to nurture healthy individuals, who join as couples, and create families. And thus, health is reproduced in future generations.
Healthy marriages offer hope for A BETTER WORLD
I know it’s not that easy and perfect. I know there are many other challenges. I do not mean to simplify societal woes and provide one easy solution.
But change and improvement have to start somewhere. I see no better place to begin the generational upswing toward improved physical and mental health and more satisfying lives than with helping couples to create the most healthy and satisfying relationships they can achieve.
I am passionate about being a marriage therapist and educator because I believe in the potential of healthy marriages to change the world!
So what makes a healthy marriage? More on that to come. . .
REFERENCES:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27017415/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453016308058
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3091824/
https://www.search-institute.org/our-research/development-assets/developmental-assets-framework/
(Barbara D. Whitehead, U.S. Senate Testimony, http://marriage.rutgers.edu)
http://nationalmarriageproject.org/reports/
http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org/resource-detail/covenant-marriage-a-fact-sheet/
