Couples therapist reveals the best age to get married to avoid divorce

A couples therapist has revealed the best age that you should get married if you want to avoid going through a divorce later down the line.

Getting married is a huge milestone in life, and in the majority of cases, the two people getting wed love each other dearly and aren't even contemplating splitting up.

However, divorce is something that many couples face, as statistics show that between 40 and 50 percent of first-time marriages will split up.

But is there a way to ensure that you and your spouse don't go through this?

Is there a way to ensure a long and happy marriage? Credit: Peter Cade/Getty

LA-based psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb, known for her bestselling book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, delved into this topic on a recent episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast.

According to Gottlieb, the timing of marriage may significantly influence its success.

Gottlieb cautioned against marrying too young, citing a lack of maturity and life experience as potential downfalls. However, she emphasized that as individuals enter their mid to late 20s, they often possess a clearer sense of self and their desires, resulting in a better environment for shared growth within a relationship.

"It's obvious about marrying too young, that you don't have the skills and you’re not established in your own life, you don't necessarily have the maturity," she said.

Quoting a study by the Institute of Family Studies, Gottlieb pointed out that the golden window for marriage lies between the ages of 25 and 30. She highlighted that individuals who marry at 25 are 50 percent less likely to divorce compared to those who wed at age 20.

"Once you get into your mid to late 20s, it's an optimal time because you have a better sense of who you are. You know more of what you want and you can grow together as a couple," the therapist said.

Getting married after 32 could harm the relationship, according to the therapist. Credit: Rubberball/Mike Kemp/Getty

She went on: "You are going to have more shared experiences and you are going to know more about each other. Your parents are probably still alive on each side, you can get to know siblings, more integrated into each other's lives."

Gottlieb was quick to note a caveat, however. Once you reach the age of 32, these positive impacts begin to fade.

"We also have a history as we get older, we have more negative experiences of maybe being broken up with. Relationships that didn't work out then inform the way that we behave in other relationships," she said.

Perhaps something that some of us are guilty of, is judging our new partner by the standards set by those we have chosen to leave in the past.

"We are punishing our current partner for a crime they didn't commit, so if you were in a relationship before where someone didn't treat you well, then you are less trusting of the partner you are with," Gottlieb explained.

Do you think there's a good age to get married?

Featured image credit: Peter Cade/Getty