Keeping A Couple Together

Researchers have identified what it takes to keep a couple together, and it's a lot more than just being in love. A couple's age and previous relationships are factors that influence whether their marriage is going to last. The study tracked 2500 couples to identify factors associated with those who remained together compared with those who divorced or separated. It found that a husband who is nine or more years older than his wife is twice as likely to get divorced, as are husbands who get married before they turn 25. Children also influence the longevity of a marriage or relationship, with one-fifth of couples who have kids before marriage - either from a privous relationship or in the same relationship - having separated compared to just nine percent of couples without children born before marriage. Women who want children much more than their partners are also more likely to get a divorce. Not surprisingly, money also plays a role, with up to 16% of respondents who indicated they were poor or where the husband - not the wife - was unemployed saying they had separated, compared with only nine percent of couples with healthy finances.