Some days when I get home from work to a mess made by my spouse, i.e. the lawn is not mowed, or shoes and clothes lying on the floor, I think, “why am I married?” It occurs to me that I could be single and not have to deal with someone else’s mess and habits. But then, I consider the obvious fact that I love my husband and family and I wouldn’t be the person that I am without them. There are positive benefits to being married. Most people would think, “Yes, there is someone to take out the trash or help with the laundry.” But, there are definite financial, health, and emotional benefits as well:
- Positive mental health – Marriage results in better mental health by giving partners a sense of meaning and that they are important and loved by someone else . For those in the military, having that emotional bond to someone back home can help ease fears of what is about to happen away on deployment .
- Economic benefits – Married couples are more likely to have savings and above average wages (Schwartz, 2005, p. 45). Having higher wages– as well as two wages– helps the family financially plus provides a safety net of some income if one person loses his or her job. Also it’s cheaper for two people to live together than to live separately.
- Health benefits – Married people are healthier than non-married people. Much of this can be explained by the fact that married men tend to drink and smoke less. Married men are also more likely to go to the doctor, possibly because they have a wife urging them them to go or making the appointment. For women, the benefit is knowing that someone relies on them, making them feel needed and having more of an inner peace.
- Happier family – Children are happier, healthier, and less like to drop out of school, or become teenage parents when their parents are married. Married parents have more time to give to their children and more resources.
So, even though we all may sometimes entertain the idea of leaving our significant others over day to day irritations, there are many positive and outweighing benefits that marriage brings.
