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Home > Policymakers > Why Healthy Marriage Matters
Why Healthy Marriage Matters
Many policymakers and government officials are interested in identifying innovative strategies to promote social well-being in a cost effective manner. Healthy marriage programs which may include relationship education for youth, premarital preparation for engaged couples or marriage enrichment programs for married couples are prevention strategies. These prevention programs are based on research that indicates that healthy marriages can:
- Be achieved for many people through skills based education;
- Lead to positive outcomes for men, women and children; and
- Strengthen communities.
Marriage is not a social panacea. Healthy marriage education programs are a strategy that can be added to the menu of social services. This will encourage stable families while still providing support to those who are most vulnerable or at risk.
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Marriage Matters for Children
Marriage is associated with an amazing list of benefits for children. In fact, researchers say that children raised by their own married parents do better, on average, than children that aren't, across all notable measures. Children that grow up with their own married parents are more likely to succeed in school and in social situations. They are also more likely to marry and to succeed at their own marriages. Many children raised by single parents, step parents, grandparents or others experience an array of positive outcomes. Parents work very hard to raise happy and high-achieving children. However, research indicates that the support of two biological married parents raising their child(ren) is, on average, better for children.
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Marriage Matters for Adults
A stable, healthy marriage provides many benefits for adults. Compared to unmarried people, research shows that, on average, married men and women live longer, have better mental and physical health , report being happier , have higher incomes and build more wealth . Even in marriages that couples say are only "good-enough" the adults and their children do better than others that live without the benefits of marriage. Building a healthy marriage takes work but the benefits indicate that it is worth the effort provided that the relationship is free from violence or any other negative influences.
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Marriage Matters for Communities
To learn more about the cost of divorce and non-marital child bearing, read The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing: First-Ever Estimates for the Nation and all 50 States. (PDF - 1339 KB) The report quantifies for the first time the astounding cost to governments from family fragmentation, and is published by a coalition of research and policy groups—Institute for American Values, Georgia Family Council, Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest. Strong, healthy marriages benefit the community. Cicero, a famous Roman philosopher who lived more than 2000 years ago, said "the first bond of society is marriage." Some may consider this an outdated idea, others firmly believe that this holds true today. Couples who work together to raise children, maintain a household, contribute to the economy and support their extended family can strengthen their community. Many communities have brought leaders from the business sector, faith community, education, and government to create a coalition that supports marriage. Providing supports such as marriage mentors, premarital education and a commitment to offering relationship skills can strengthen a community.
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