To Be or Not to Be: Advice From Long-Term Spouses in a Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Marriage has been a topic of analysis for decades, supported by countless funders such as the government and the Healthy Marriage Initiative. With time, marriage has become less of a societal standard despite overwhelming research supporting its value for adults, children, and society. With the idea that factors that create satisfaction may not be the same ones that result in long-term success, this study uniquely aimed to get the perspectives of those who have been married for 20 or more years. This study's purpose is to record the wisdom on marriage coming from generations of largely successful individuals through anonymous online surveys. Educational level and marital satisfaction are both associated with participants reporting that their marriage is important to their life satisfaction. While infidelity, raising children, health problems, finances, and loss were the struggles most reported, hard work and commitment were reported as the most important needs to come back from difficult times within long-term marriages. Successful, long-term marriages exist as a product of choices of both individuals.