A study published in the journal Family Relations finds that couples who have pre-wedding jitters are more likely to get divorced.
Researchers surveyed 322 couples in Los Angeles during the first few months of their marriage, and then again every six months for four years following their marriage.
"Newlywed wives who had doubts about getting married before their wedding were two-and-a-half times more likely to divorce four years later than wives without these doubts," said Justin Lavner, a doctoral student in psychology at UCLA and one of the study authors. "Among couples still married after four years, husband and wives with doubts were significantly less satisfied with their marriage than those without doubts."
Researchers found that nineteen percent of wives who reported cold feet were divorced within four years, compared to only eight percent of wives who were not nervous or having second thoughts before the wedding.
Thirty-six percent of couples reported that neither party had any doubts. Only 6% of these participants were divorced four years later.
The researchers were quick to note that pre-wedding nerves don't necessarily mean that a marriage will fail, but that it is important to be open and communicate about any worries or concerns with your partner before the wedding.
