While there probably is no "perfect" time to get married, according to a recent US study, when you choose to tie the knot could have an impact on your marriage staying the course. And the 'ideal' time to get hitched probably isn't what you'd expect.
The Institute of Family Studieshave published research that found that the risk of divorce is the lowest for those that wait until their late twenties - but it gets higher after the age of 32. And if you got married young, e.g. before your late twenties, it's equally risky:[
](http://family-studies.org/want-to-avoid-divorce-wait-to-get-married-but-not-too-long/)
"Prior to age 32 or so, each additional year of age at marriage reduces the odds of divorce by 11 percent. However, after that the odds of divorce increase by 5 percent per year." the study reveals.
We're not surprised about the whole 'early marriage being a bit more risky' statistic - after all, while many people marry young and have long, happy marriages, there are more risk factors involved - mainly the fact that people tend to change a lot during their twenties, which can then cause issues in a relationship. [
](http://family-studies.org/want-to-avoid-divorce-wait-to-get-married-but-not-too-long/)
But the post-32 statistic was more surprising - because studies of this kind have usually suggested that those who marry later have long marriages. So why is it happening?
Professor Nicholas Wolfinger, who led the study, summed up why he thinks the results occurred:
"My money is on a selection effect: the kinds of people who wait till their thirties to get married may be the kinds of people who aren’t predisposed toward doing well in their marriages...Such people naturally have trouble with interpersonal relationships."
Gee, thanks for that Nick. He continues:
"Consequently they delay marriage, often because they can’t find anyone willing to marry them. When they do tie the knot, their marriages are automatically at high risk for divorce. More generally, perhaps people who marry later face a pool of potential spouses that has been winnowed down to exclude the individuals most predisposed to succeed at matrimony."
While that statement could REALLY annoy anyone over the age of 32, it's important to remember with any kind of study that:
a) This is a more general study than a compatability calculator for you and your beloved.
b) There are so many factors involved that determine whether a marriage is successful or not.
c) Each relationship is different.
d) You should mainly marry someone because you love them and they are an amazing person and not a douchebag!
So you're definitely not doomed if you got married before 25, or if you tied the knot in your thirties or older. And if you're in your late twenties, you really don't need to grab the nearest person to you and head straight up the altar.