Wed in mid 20s 'for best marriage'

AFP reports:

COUPLES who wed in their mid 20s have the best chance of living happily together until death do them part, a new survey on American marriage found today.
The results contradict conventional wisdom that partners have the best chance for a healthy marriage if they wait until their 30s, researchers said.

Couples who tied the knot between the ages of 23 and 27 stood the best chance of success, according to a statistical index on the quality of marriage constructed on data collected by the University of Texas for the National Fatherhood Initiative.

"Beyond a certain age, later marriage does not improve the success of the marriage," said Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, of the National Marriage Project, commenting on the survey results.