What makes for a happy wife? A “protective” husband
February 7, 2025(CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA) – EMBARGOED: UNTIL FEBRUARY 07, 2025 00:01AM
CONTACT: CHRIS BULLIVANT
New study finds regular date nights, commitment, and shared churchgoing also help
Women are happier with guys that are protective, according to a new report out today.
Even though young women are increasingly skeptical marriage is a reliable path to happiness, the data tell us that married women are happier than their single peers. This is particularly true for women who are happily married. So, what predicts a happy wife today?
A fascinating new study, titled “For Better: Four Proven Ways to a Strong and Stable Marriage,” from researchers at the University of Virginia, the Wheatley Institute at BYU, and the Institute for Family Studies points to four ingredients.
Protectiveness: Wives who reported that it was “definitely true” that their husbands are protective were 137% more likely to be very happy in their marriage than their peers who rated their husbands as less protective.
“One of the striking things I found in speaking to wives on both the left and the right is that they were generally markedly happier when they told me that their husbands made them feel physically safe or protected,” said Brad Wilcox, University Professor of Sociology at UVA, a study co-author.
Commitment: Wives who completely agreed that their relationship with their husband was one of the most important things in their lives were 400% more likely to be very happy in their marriage than wives who did not report the same amount of commitment to their relationship.
“Commitment to one’s spouse has long been recognized as a foundation for developing a flourishing marriage,” said Jason Carroll, the Family Initiative Director at the Wheatley Institute and study co-author. “While commitment has always been an important part of healthy marriage, it may be even more significant for couples today where they are surrounded by media and cultural trends that often encourage spouses to turn their attention toward careers, friends, and technology.”
Date Nights: Wives reporting regular date nights had odds of being very happily married that were 56% higher than wives who went on date nights less often, and husbands who reported regular date nights had odds that were 114% higher than their peers who dated less.
“Being able to reconnect is especially important for spouses, given all the demands on their time. Date nights serve many important functions that help nurture marriage. On a date, spouses can spend time as a couple with fewer distractions, catch up with each other, and continue the courtship that preceded their marriage,” noted Jeff Dew, Professor at the School of Family Life at BYU, and report co-author.
The study is released in time for National Marriage Week 2025, February 7-14.
The report outlines that marital stability findings are similar. For women the numbers are as below:
The bottom line: Today, having a protective husband—as well as one who is committed, a faithful churchgoer, and a devoted dater—markedly increases women’s odds of being happily and stably married.
ENDS
