New data has revealed that the number of marriages following the Covid-19 lockdowns increased significantly in 2022. According to Marissa Nelson, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Washington, DC, the rise in marriage rates could be attributed to more than just rescheduling.
The numbers show that the number of marriages has taken a plunge since the onset of the pandemic. According to new data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, the number of marriages has remained steady for the past two decades at around 7 to 8 per 1,000 people annually.
However, the data indicate that 2020 the marriage rate dropped significantly to 5.1 per 1,000 people. The trend started to reverse the following year, and by 2022, the number of marriages increased to 6.2 per capita, with over 2 million marriages recorded in a year, according to the report.
The lockdowns gave couples unique opportunities to tackle problems head-on, including important issues like finances, compromise, and autonomy. Nelson said many people emerged from this experience with a better understanding of what they needed in a life partner.
Divorce rates are declining.
A recent report shows that declining divorce rates may be attributed to intentionality. The current divorce rate in 2022 is 2.4 per 1,000 people, which is still higher than the lowest it has ever been, 2.3 in 2021. However, the data indicates a consistent downward trend in divorce rates.
The report suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns may have affected this decline. Being confined to homes together may have led couples to confront their issues and problems more directly, which could have worsened the situation or helped them build a stronger foundation for their relationship.
Additionally, the report highlights that changes in societal norms and attitudes over the past two decades may have contributed to the decreasing divorce rates. Therapy has become more widely accepted and accessible, and marriage roles have become more flexible. People are also more open to discussing their expectations and desires for their relationships, which may have led to better communication and problem-solving.
Another significant change recently has been how people enter marriages, said Ian Kerner, a licensed marriage and family therapist and CNN contributor.
“In my practice over the last decade, I’ve noticed a gradual shift from the ‘romantic marriage’ to the ‘companionate marriage,’ meaning that people are increasingly choosing spouses at the outset who are more like best friends than passion partners,” Kerner said.
Doing so may lead to problems with attraction. Still, it also means those people are choosing partners based on qualities likely to promote long-term stability and satisfaction, he said in a previous CNN article.
“At its bare minimum, commitment implies the experience of being bonded with another. At its very best, it means being bonded with someone who is a consistent, safe, and secure home base that will be there for you in the face of any adversities,” said Dr. Monica O’Neal, a Boston psychologist, in a recent CNN article.
Ian Kerner, a licensed marriage and family therapist and CNN contributor, noticed a significant shift in how people enter into marriages over the past decade. The trend is moving from a “romantic marriage” to a “companionate marriage,” where individuals choose spouses who are more like best friends than passion partners. According to Kerner, this shift may result in problems with attraction, but it also means that people are selecting partners based on qualities that promote long-term stability and satisfaction.
DA Boston psychologist Dr. Monica O’Neal explained that commitment involves bonding with another person. At its best, it means being bonded with someone who is a consistent, safe, and secure home base that will be there for you in the face of any adversities.
