Questions: Marriage & Weddings

The seven-year itch is a psychological term which suggests that happiness in a relationship declines after around year seven of a marriage.

The seven-year itch can be analyzed quantitatively. Divorce rates show a trend in couples that, on average, divorce around seven years. Statistics show that there is a low risk of separation during the first months of marriage. After the ‘honeymoon’ months, divorce rates start to increase. Most married couples experience a gradual decline in the quality of their marriage; in recent years around the fourth year of marriage. Around the seventh year, tensions rise to a point that couples either divorce or adapt to their partner.

In samples taken from the National Centre for Health Statistics, there proves to be an average median duration of marriage across time. In 1922, the median duration of marriage was 6.6. In 1974, the median duration was 7.5. In 1990, the median duration was 7.2. While these can fluctuate from year to year, the averages stay relatively close to the seven year mark.

A friend of mine recently got married. After this she decided to rent a house with around 6 other friends on her wedding night. This house allowed them to have a bedroom each but had share bathrooms/ kitchen/ living room. This means that there isn't much opportunity for romance or time alone. Would you do this?

What are your views on couples living together before marriage? for me personally, i can see it as a good and bad thing. Good because it could save two people from making a mistake of marrying each other if they find out that they can't live together and for financial reasons since the U. S. economy isn't the best. I see it as bad because my parents frown upon it and don't think its right. I think the view on it is changing as the next generation is getting older.