What are Healthy Marriages All About?

Typically, in healthy marriages, both spouses have a deep respect for each other and the relationship is mutually enriching. The union is committed to continuous personal growth and the development and the use of skills in effective communication and conflict resolution.

What are the Benefits of Healthy Marriages to You, Your Family, and Your Community?

For Couples -- Healthy marriages have great benefits for husbands and wives. Men tend to live longer, have better jobs, earn higher wages, are less likely to abuse alcohol, drugs, or pornography or be abusive. Women tend to enjoy a higher standard of living and are less likely to commit suicide or be a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crime. Couples in a healthy marriage, on average, are emotionally and physically healthier, have better relationships with their children, are less likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), and have more satisfying sex with their spouses.

For Children and Youth -- Children raised by parents in healthy marriages are more likely to get along well with other members of the family, do better in school, attend college, and be physically and emotionally healthier. Compared to unhealthy marriages, kids with parents in a healthy marriage are less likely to be raised in poverty, to contemplate, attempt or commit suicide, to be a victim of physical or sexual abuse, to break the law, or to abuse drugs or alcohol. Also, they are less likely to be sexually active as teenagers, to contract STD's, to cause or become a victim of teenage pregnancy or to divorce down the road.

For Communities -- A community that strives to promote and sustain healthy marriages benefits in a number of ways including: higher community involvement, higher average income, lower crime rates, higher home ownership, larger numbers of highly educated citizens, higher quality of life overall, decreased need for social services, and pride of citizenship.