Marriage can change couples personalities, study reveals

Marriage is often described as a situation where “those who marry regret it and those who do not marry regret that too.” Now, scientists have revealed a surprising effect that marriage can have on couples.

According to researchers, the first two years of marriage can bring significant changes to the personalities of newly married couples. A joint study by the University of Georgia and the University of California found that personality changes during the first two years of marriage can have important long-term effects on marital relationships.

According to the study, newlyweds experience noticeable changes in their personalities and these changes can influence their satisfaction with their relationship with their spouse.

The research found that during the first 18 months of marriage, husbands tend to become more dependent on their wives and increasingly focus their attention on their wives rather than the outside world.

The study also found that wives experienced reductions in anxiety, depression, feelings of inferiority, restlessness and stress. These positive personality changes were observed among couples of different age groups.

However, researchers also noted one negative development: compatibility between husbands and wives tended to decrease.

The researchers said that, overall, the findings show that men and women undergo significant personality changes soon after marriage and these changes can be important for developing a healthy long-term relationship. The findings of the study were published in the journal Developmental Psychology.

Spousal support and stress

Earlier, a study conducted by Binghamton University in the United States in April 2024 found that feeling a lack of support from a spouse can increase physical stress. This feeling can raise levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.

Cortisol works with parts of the brain involved in regulating mood, motivation and behaviour. Researchers said that people’s perceptions of their spouse’s support become stronger over time allowing them to predict how their partner is likely to behave in different situations.

They further noted that support from a spouse is more important than people may expect.