Issues@Hand

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February 2015 – According to a September 15, 2014, study from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, several factors in marriage decisions have far-reaching impact on the success of a marriage.

Dating for at least three years makes divorce 39% less likely than dating for less than a year, but spending more than $2,000 on an engagement ring significantly increases divorce risk.

Men who say a woman’s looks are important in their decision to get married are 50% more likely to divorce, and women are 60% more likely to divorce when their husband’s wealth is important to them, compared to men and women who said neither was important.

A large, but low-cost wedding lowers the possibility of divorce dramatically, and taking a honeymoon also makes divorce 41% less likely. The higher a couple’s combined yearly income, the lower the likelihood of divorce.

Finally, divorce is 46% less likely with regular religious attendance than when never attending church.

These findings indicate that couples build a stronger foundation for marriage when they assign more value to people and relationships than to money or appearance.

businessinsider.com, 10/14/14