How does age at marriage relate to divorce risk?

How does age at marriage relate to divorce risk?

• A. The risk increases as age increases
• B. The risk decreases as age at marriage increases
• C. Age has no effect on divorce risk
• D. Divorce risk fluctuates unpredictably with age

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how the age at which people marry relates to the likelihood of divorce. On average, the later people marry, the lower their risk of divorce. This happens because waiting longer often means more time to develop emotional and financial stability, clearer life goals, and stronger problem-solving and communication skills—all of which help couples handle disagreements and stress more effectively. Additionally, those who marry later are more likely to have completed education, established work or financial footing, and built supportive social networks, all of which can contribute to a more stable marriage. Of course, marriage outcomes are not determined by age alone—many couples who marry young have durable, lifelong marriages, and some late marriages encounter other challenges. But the overall pattern in research reflects a decrease in divorce risk as age at marriage increases, making the best choice among the options the one that states the risk declines with older marriage.

The idea being tested is how the age at which people marry relates to the likelihood of divorce. On average, the later people marry, the lower their risk of divorce. This happens because waiting longer often means more time to develop emotional and financial stability, clearer life goals, and stronger problem-solving and communication skills—all of which help couples handle disagreements and stress more effectively. Additionally, those who marry later are more likely to have completed education, established work or financial footing, and built supportive social networks, all of which can contribute to a more stable marriage.

Of course, marriage outcomes are not determined by age alone—many couples who marry young have durable, lifelong marriages, and some late marriages encounter other challenges. But the overall pattern in research reflects a decrease in divorce risk as age at marriage increases, making the best choice among the options the one that states the risk declines with older marriage.