Couples who marry before having first child 50% less likely to split than couples who don’t: study

The Christian Post ^ | June 17, 2026 | Leonardo Blair

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Couples who marry before conceiving their first child are 50% less likely to break up than those who conceive outside of wedlock, findings of a new study show....

Benson analyzed data on 3,324 couples and tracked their children born in the early 2000s until their 14th birthday. He found a significant “marriage effect” regardless of socioeconomic background, race, religion, education, region, and several other control variables.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: marriage; socialconservatism

[spincaster]

So, it’s a toss up?

[aspasia]

Only for a spinner.

[Antoninus]

It’s funny that we need to do studies to tell us what conventional wisdom told our great-grandparents 100 years ago.

[fwdude]

I would say this is way more correlation than causation. But still a solid indicator of lifestyle values that work.

[ansel12]

This kind of data has always been known, in the 1960s the info about living together before marriage resulting in more divorces was no secret.

[Raycpa]

How about couples who had marriage ceremony scheduled and three months pregnant when taking vows? Asking for a friend.

[DIRTYSECRET]

There’s a term for that: shotgun weddings.

[LibertyOh]

Imagine the results of a study that went a couple of steps further. Couples that actually waited until marriage to have sexual relations.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Once you’ve had a marshmello you gonna give up sugar?

[cgbg]

“more correlation than causation”

Good post.

Folks who have a collection of good habits tend to get good results—all part of a package.

[Tell It Right]

I Agree 100%.

Also, one thing I find interesting is the woman factor in divorce. From the article below:
Lesbian couples divorce at higher rates than straight couples, and straights slightly higher than gay men. The presumption is it's in straight couples, women initiate divorce 70% of the time.
https://freedomforallamericans.org/lesbian-divorce-rate/

So, I'm 100% in agreement with more Christian values --> less chance of divorce. I'm also thinking that the secret may be getting the women on board with the Christian values. That might be a 70% solution.

[Republican Wildcat]

So, it’s a toss up?

50% less likely is significantly less.

[Republican Wildcat]

Imagine the results of a study that went a couple of steps further. Couples that actually waited until marriage to have sexual relations.

Astronomically different. Also have more sex more often over the course of their lives. Stands to reason - take serious things seriously, get better results.

[Republican Wildcat]

That could be true - in general taking some things seriously makes it more likely they are taking other things seriously - inverse also true - taking some things less seriously means it is more they are taking things in general less seriously.

[oldtech]

Don’t really consider this news as I think this has been known for quite a long time. It is part of God’s plan for couples & some might be surprised as to how many folks believe in this.

[napscoordinator]

I’ve seen a lot of divorces from women going back to school getting an education and getting in the workplace. I honestly think that’s a big problem with regards to families staying together.

[napscoordinator]

Both married people need to wanna have sex often. Sometimes one or the other sort of gives up on it. obviously, the one you need searches for what they want, which can result in problems.