Why Is The First Year Of Marriage So A Time To Determine The Lasting Of A Relationship?

Illustration (Marc A Sporys/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The first year of marriage is filled with changes and adjustments as you and your partner enter new roles in life. Although it can be difficult at times, research shows that how you handle change and make adjustments in your first year of marriage can determine how long you can last your marriage.

A 2009 study conducted by Ted Huston, Phd of the University of Texas at Austin on Predicting Satisfaction and Causes of Stress in Marriage says that if love and affection decrease while conflicting attitudes towards a partner increase in the first two years of marriage, then this could be predictor of divorce after 13 years.

The same study also found that couples who divorced in the first two years of marriage showed signs of disappointment and negative behavior toward each other in the first two months of marriage. Meanwhile, happy couples in marriage are couples who are able to have positive feelings about their partners during the early period of the relationship.

In a recent study showed that currently newly married couples are more prone to dissatisfaction due to unrealistic expectations. Or what is expected does not work in accordance with reality.

One study also found that newlyweds who tend to expect their happiness levels to increase in the first four years of marriage are actually more likely to experience a decrease in happiness over time. Therefore, it is advisable not to assume and put more expectations when undergoing a marriage relationship. Just live life and feel all the feelings you have right now.

Every marriage has its ups and downs and it can be difficult at any time. However, with a solid foundation in the first two years of marriage, domestic life is expected to remain stable, even in difficult times. So, manage your relationship in the first two years of marriage so that it becomes a solid foundation in facing challenges in the future.