There's no ideal age for marital success. Yet, research suggests that couples who get married later in life report higher relationship satisfaction. However, there are couples in the U.S. who get married way too young – even before they're of age. Studies estimate that between 2000 and 2018, about 148,944 17-year-olds entered marriage in the U.S.
So did this couple, when pushed by their religious parents. The husband, however, always felt unhappy, and 11 years and two kids later, he finally had enough. That's where he faced a challenge: his wife was way too religious to agree to divorce, and his parents and friends would definitely side with her. So, he went online to ask for advice about the best way to get out of this unhappy marriage.
A man asked his religious wife for a divorce, but she refused
Image credits: The Yuri Arcurs Collection / Magnific (not the actual photo)
He claimed they were never happy and only got married because their religious parents had pushed them
Image credits: tirachardz / Magnific (not the actual photo)
Image credits: ThrowRA_Eye4934
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Strictly religious people are more likely to marry young
The beginning of this marriage raises several red flags. The fact that the couple was basically forced to enter the marriage by their parents doesn't paint a nice picture. Then there's the age thing: can 17-year-olds really make a big life decision like marriage?
As of 2026, women in the U.S. enter their first marriage at an average age of 30, while men first get married at about 32 years old. When they come from religious backgrounds, however, they are almost always younger.
According to the Institute for Family Studies, religious young people often go from being single to married. For other couples, it's more acceptable to first date, then live together for some months or even years, and then get married. Religious couples, on the other hand, often skip that step and get married in their early 20s.
The age at which couples get married also depends on their religious denomination. Studies show that Mormons and conservative Protestants are the earliest to marry, followed by mainline Protestants and Catholics. Jews and the religiously unaffiliated usually get married the latest.
Image credits: Victoria Priessnitz / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
For religious couples, marriage is the foundation for their lives, while for secular couples, it's a 'capstone' after they've achieved everything they've wanted
Sociologists have noticed that there are differences in how religious and secular people view marriage. They distinguish two types of marriages in this regard: capstone and cornerstone.
- Capstone marriages usually describe non-religious couples. These are people who get married older, once they've achieved financial stability, fulfilled their personal growth, and have achieved independence.
- Cornerstone marriages are the opposite – they are the foundation of a union. Couples start with marriage and build their purpose, identity, and future together. These couples usually get married young, before they finish college and have stable careers.
Some say that capstone marriages can be more successful as both partners are more likely to have matured, developed emotional intelligence, and established what they want from life. On the other hand, partners in capstone marriages can have a harder time connecting and adjusting to a partnership.
Couples who have had a cornerstone marriage build their identity around their family unit with their spouse from a young age and form a "we-identity." At the same time, they're more likely to drift away, as their priorities and values can change as they mature.
In the end, there's no one perfect model for marriage; both cornerstone and capstone marriages have their advantages and disadvantages. However, studies do show that early marriages are more likely to end in divorce. Having said that, couples shouldn't deliberately delay their marriage just in the hope that it will last longer.
Some studies suggest that the sweet spot is 32, as the likelihood of getting divorced increases by about 5% for every year after that age. On the other hand, each marriage is unique, with its own problems, joys, and challenges, and not every statistic may apply to every single married couple.
"They will fight against this divorce with everything," the husband added, referring to his parents
"Don't stay in a miserable marriage," the commenters advised, "It will do harm to yourself and your children"
