The Effect of Marriage on the Well-Being of Adults

Abstract

We live in a society in which the roles of the individual tend to be both specialized and compartmentalized. Because of the fragmentation of one's relationships it is difficult for an individual to establish a clear identity and to demonstrate to others, and thus oneself, that one is a person of worth. Marriage is a very private relationship and couples are able to develop a social system with its own nomic structure that reflects their attributes and interests. It is a place where one's roles are brought together and decisions are made with regard to how one will perform those roles. An individual's investment in the marital relationship as indicated by time and resources is substantial. It is also an intimate relationship with a high level of emotional involvement and substantial rights and obligations. The primary interaction provided by the marital relationship is thus particularly well suited to the development of a clear definition of the individual's self and worth. Because of these attributes, marriage tends to be strongly related to the well-being of individuals. However, these attributes also often cause conflict and anger in the marital relationship. The benefits of marriage are strongly related to the fact that marriage is a very private relationship. However, because the marital relationship is very personal and private, it tends to be unstable and this instability undercuts many of the benefits derived from marriage. The privacy of marriage also makes effective societal intervention to achieve societal goals particularly difficult.