The Benefits of Healthy Marriages
by Tara Wentworth
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Healthy Marriage Initiative have done extensive research on the benefits of healthy marriages. Healthy marriages not only benefit the women and men involved in those marriages, but their children and their communities.
Children and youth who are raised by parents who have healthy marriages include some of the following statistics:
More likely to attend college
More likely to succeed academically
Physically and emotionally healthier
Less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol
Less likely to be sexually active as a teenager, contract STD’s, become pregnant, be a victim of
physical or sexual abuse
Less likely to be raised in poverty
Less likely to commit delinquent behaviors
Some of the known benefits for women who are in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages include:
More satisfying relationship
Emotionally and physically healthier
Wealthier, less likely to remain or end up in poverty
Have better relationships with their children
Less likely to be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crimes
Less likely to attempt or commit suicide
Researchers have also found many benefits for men who are in healthy marriages:
Live longer
Physically and emotionally healthier
Wealthier, higher wages
Increase in the stability of employment
Decrease risk of drug and alcohol abuse
Have better relationships with their children
More satisfying sexual relationship
There are also many benefits for communities that have a higher percentage of couples in healthy marriages, compared to unhealthy marriages, including:
Higher rates of emotionally and physically healthy citizens
Higher rates of educated citizens
Lower domestic violence rates, crime statistics
Higher rates of home ownership, higher property values
Lower rates of migration
Decreased needs for social services, lower teen pregnancy rates
Lower juvenile delinquency
These convincing statistics alone inspire Thomasville Family and MarriageNet to do everything we can to empower people in our community with the resources necessary to prevent and/or heal unhealthy marriages. We want to help those with good marriages to become even healthier, so that they can model before others ways that will ultimately bless our whole community.
| Name | Size | Type | Last Modified |
| TFAM article - Having an Intentional Marriage | 35.6 KB | File | 3/12/2009 12:57:34 PM |
| TFAM article - Leaving a Legacy | 25 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:53 AM |
| TFAM article - Praying for our Leaders | 24.5 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:55 AM |
| TFAM article - Resolving Honest Conflict | 24 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:51 AM |
| TFAM article - Three Magic Words | 24 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:58 AM |
| TFAM article -Learning to Talk | 24.5 KB | Microsoft Word Document | 2/26/2009 11:19:56 AM |