What is a Healthy Marriage?
Healthy, long lasting marriages can take many different forms. Healthy marriages go through difficult periods. Experts agree there is no single “cookie cutter” approach to having a healthy marriage. However, researchers have identified the following core characteristics that most healthy marriages share:
- commitment to each other over the long haul
- positive communication
- ability to resolve disagreements and handle conflicts nonviolently
- emotional and physical safety in interaction
- sexual and psychological fidelity
- mutual respect
- spending enjoyable time together
- providing emotional support and companionship
- mutual commitment to their children
For further information see: Child Trends’ Research Brief: What is “Healthy Marriage?” Defining the Concept; the NHMRC tip sheet: How to Know if you have a Healthy Marriage; the NHMRC brief What is the Healthy Marriage Field? What is a Healthy Marriage; and the NHMRC tip sheet 10 Things You Can Do to Have a Healthy Marriage.
