Couples happiest after two decades

MARRIED couples who make it to 20 years together are happier than when they first wed, according to researchers.

These couples are likely to have put their romantic fantasies to one side and developed a “marital resilience” and “contentment”, the experts said.

They spend increased time doing activities together, often more than when they were newlyweds, they added.

US researchers examined 20 years of data from 2034 married people, with an average age of 35 for wives and 37 for husbands. A fifth had been married for fewer than five years, a fifth for more than 15 years and the rest for between five and 10 years.

Predictably, they found that those who ended up getting divorced reported frequent quarrels, which eventually eroded happiness and led to them spending less time together.

In contrast, those who stuck together managed to develop resilience and were able to resolve the disagreements of their early years and improve their relationship.

And marriage was more beneficial for men, with wives reporting more woes.

Researchers Paul Amato, of Pennsylvania University, and Spencer James, of Brigham Young University in Utah, said: “Although divorce is common these days, about half of all marriages last a lifetime and the long-term outlook for most of these marriages is upbeat, with happiness and interaction remaining high, and discord declining.”