By Lisa Hoplock
In a survey of over 1200 adolescents, 95% of them said that they would get married some day. But, I’m willing to bet that they weren’t ready to get married at the time they answered that question. Why? Likely because they’re young, and when you’re young, it feels like you have a million things to take into account before you make a major life decision like getting married. In this post I discuss the top things that people take into consideration when deciding whether or not to get married.
Money
One of the major factors that young adults (i.e., those in their teens to mid-20s) take into consideration when deciding whether or not to get married is money. Not yet being financially secure is one of the primary reasons people wait to get married. For example, in a study of more than 2000 people, participants said that they would put off marriage until they could afford to throw a wedding they’d be happy with. People want to be able to have steady income coming in, debts paid down, and money saved up before they marry. The focus on financial security is a great goal: Couples who spend beyond their means on an engagement ring and wedding aren’t as likely to succeed as couples who are more financially responsible.
One of the major factors that young adults (i.e., those in their teens to mid-20s) take into consideration when deciding whether or not to get married is money. Not yet being financially secure is one of the primary reasons people wait to get married. For example, in a study of more than 2000 people, participants said that they would put off marriage until they could afford to throw a wedding they’d be happy with. People want to be able to have steady income coming in, debts paid down, and money saved up before they marry. The focus on financial security is a great goal: Couples who spend beyond their means on an engagement ring and wedding aren’t as likely to succeed as couples who are more financially responsible.
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Age And Life Experiences
Some people want to wait to get married because they think they’re too young and not yet mature enough to make such a big commitment. Another reason why people want to wait until they're older is because they’ll have more life experiences. Many people want to get married eventually, but they want to complete some key life goals first, such as graduating from college and buying a home. Experiencing life-goals before settling down is a good way to learn about one's self — such experiences help individuals identify their priorities and values before embarking on a new relationship or the next step in a relationship.
Some people want to wait to get married because they think they’re too young and not yet mature enough to make such a big commitment. Another reason why people want to wait until they're older is because they’ll have more life experiences. Many people want to get married eventually, but they want to complete some key life goals first, such as graduating from college and buying a home. Experiencing life-goals before settling down is a good way to learn about one's self — such experiences help individuals identify their priorities and values before embarking on a new relationship or the next step in a relationship.
Viable Marriage Prospects
Once individuals are financially stable and know more about themselves and what they are looking for in a partner, it helps to have viable prospects around. Thus, another factor people take into consideration when thinking about marriage is whether there appear to be (m)any marriageable prospects available.
Once individuals are financially stable and know more about themselves and what they are looking for in a partner, it helps to have viable prospects around. Thus, another factor people take into consideration when thinking about marriage is whether there appear to be (m)any marriageable prospects available.
For example, in one study researchers asked women what they were looking for in a partner. The women indicated that they were looking for someone who was financially stable, willing to commit, and emotionally secure. Unfortunately, the women in the study felt like they knew very few people in their community who fit the bill. As a result, they said that they would rather be on their own than make a mistake and marry the wrong person. Getting married only to later get divorced is a fear that many people share.
In sum, there are a variety of factors that young adults take into consideration before taking the plunge. The factors noted above represent just a few of the considerations involved in this major life decision. Much less is known about older adults (particularly those who are aged 50+) and the factors that they consider when deciding to get married. However, with the number of older adults increasing, I think researchers are going to know a lot more soon. With this research in mind, what kinds of factors would you take into consideration before taking the plunge?