CBS News reported recently about a study conducted in the Los Angeles area which collected data from nearly 250 couples from the first couple months of their marriage up to four years after the fact. The first question was about pre-wedding jitters. 47% of men admitted to having reservations compared to 38% of women. Although more men confessed to having “cold feet” prior to the ceremony, it was evident in the data that the women’s feelings had more effect on the end result on the marriage.
“People think everybody has premarital doubts and you don’t have to worry about them,” Justin Lavner, the UCLA doctoral student in psychology who led the study, released in a statement. “We found they are common but not benign. Newlywed wives who had doubts about getting married before their wedding were two-and-a-half times more likely to divorce four years later than wives without these doubts. Among couples still married after four years, husbands and wives with doubts were significantly less satisfied with their marriage than those without doubts. “
In couples where the woman had doubts, 19% of those ended in divorce within 4 years of marriage, versus 8% who did not have pre-marriage jitters. In couples where the man had reservations, 14 percent ended in divorce whereas the percentage resulting in divorce was 9% for those without qualms. It is nice to know that jitters are not a death sentence for any marriage, yet it might be a smart move to protect any assets you have with a pre-nuptial agreement. The hope is that with this information couples who are committing to each other will find the time to address misgivings before it is too late. Though, if you feel you are unable to continue with your marriage, you shouldn’t go through it alone. Contact a dedicated family law attorney in Naperville who will concern themselves with your best interests in you trying time.
