Jackson County

Nina Chen, Ph.D.
Human Development Specialist

Healthy marriages are important for both adults and children's well-being. Healthy marriages don't happen overnight.  It takes time, commitment, and effort for two people to make marriage work.  Although every couple has different strengths and ingredients to make their marriage work, there are certain ingredients that researchers have identified that will help increase marital satisfaction and happiness.  These ingredients are:

• Commitment                                                     

• Flexibility

• Acceptance of differences

• Mutual love and respect                        

• Empathy

• Agreed-upon "ground rules"   

• Realistic expectations

• A core of shared values              

• Open communication

• The ability to argue constructively   

• Sense of humor

• Emotional stability                               

• Sexual compatibility

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		University of Missouri Extension Jackson County Jacksonblsp@missouri.edu Updated 12/13/06