MANILA, Philippines - Most people believe that waiting for the right one regardless of your age is the key to a happy marriage, but a new study believes otherwise.
Nicholas H. Wolfinger, a sociologist at the University of Utah suggests that people should get married between the ages of 28 and 32.
The study published by the generally pro-marriage Institute of Family Studies claims that the probability of a failed marriage is lesser when you get married within those ages.
Jordan Weismann of Slate Magazine refers to this as the "Goldilocks theory of marriage" - the need to find that "just right" age in order to have a lasting relationship.
In order to explore the study, Wolfinger used 2006-2010 data and the 2011-2013 data from the National Survey of Family Growth. According to him, the indicated that age at marriage now has a U-shaped or upside down bell curve relationship to divorce risk.
"The odds of divorce decline as you age from your teenage years through your late twenties and early thirties. Thereafter, the chances of divorce go up again as you move into your late thirties and early forties," he said.
Wolfinger tried to control the data such as race, education, religion, sexual history, family background, or the size of the cities survey takers to see if these variables affect the findings, but results still show the U-shaped curve relationship.
Despite the findings, it is important to note that Wolfinger's study is just about the statistical risk. It does not necessarily say that you will be an old maid if you aren't married yet in your late 30s.
Research explains that this study may be supported by the idea that with age, people mature. When you are already at your mid 30s, you already have significant life choices and more responsibilities, therefore, managing romantic commitments may be difficult.