Top 9 Disadvantages of Early Marriage

Many people are marrying early these days. They would like to get into matrimony as soon as their courtship is over. Tying the knot is essential to strengthen their relationship. They feel settling down in life early would help them set up their independent home.

Child marriage happens all over the world. It is more prevalent in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It is a health and human rights issue. It’s never right because it hurts girls’ schooling, health, and happiness. Girls who marry young get sad, sick with infections, and have a host of other serious health problems. Their babies are more often premature, and most of them might not survive. Keeping girls in school is one of the best ways to stop child marriage and keep them healthy. (Source)

Whatever may be the advantages of settling down early in life, the fact remains there are problems to be faced if one gets into matrimony too quickly. What are these?

Top 9 Disadvantages of Early Marriage – Problems of Early Marriage

1. Physical and Psychological Problems

Early marriage leads to numerous problems for teenagers in general and girls in particular. One of the biggest of them is having babies too early. It is very dangerous for both the mother and the baby. Young mothers generally get sick easily and have a hard time during pregnancy and when they give birth. Getting married early also makes them feel sad and stressed as the body is not fit to take up the responsibilities of a marriage. Often, they feel trapped and not happy in their marriage. This leads to feeling low, and in a lot of cases, they get depressed. (Source)

2. Responsibility

Responsibility has to be shouldered at a very young age. One has to take on household responsibilities, child-rearing responsibilities, etc. No adult can guide or help if the couple is living alone. There is a minimum age for a driver’s license, voting, joining the army, specific jobs, and even joining Facebook. Why can there not be a minimum age for marriage to fulfill their responsibilities responsibly?

2. Teenage Life

They are missing out on the fun of teenage life and being young. The exertions of married life can get on to the unmatured minds. It affects individuals’ overall growth; in most cases, they do not become responsible citizens. It might be attributed to the early tensions and stress the couple has to endure when their minds are incapable of taking them up.

4. Divorce

Breakdown of marriage is possible. Often young couples are immature to shoulder significant life responsibilities and end up fighting with each other. Adjustment problems may arise primarily after childbirth, whether financial or responsibility. All these could lead to the couple’s breakup, which could devastate them, making it challenging for them to return fully to everyday life.

5. Education

The young couple may be unable to pursue higher education as they have to take on the family budget’s responsibilities. About 50% of pregnant women in their teens only complete their high school education in the USA, whereas 90% of women who never got pregnant in their teens complete it.

6. Career

Work opportunities are limited for youngsters. Since their education levels are low, they cannot get highly-paid jobs. Also, since most cannot complete even their high school education, they have to settle for menial jobs that are often not well paid.

7. Children Upbringing

Bringing up children may be difficult. Their knowledge of child care may be limited, and parental guidance is also not there. They may not be able to provide the appropriate care for their child.

Raising children can be super hard, and young parents do not have experience or much support from society or parents. They might also need to learn more about taking care of kids. They struggle to give their child the right care. Young parents also need more money or time for their child’s needs. This makes the child feel lonely and neglected. Learning how to be a good parent is tough without guidance. Children in these families do not get the love and support they need to grow up happy and healthy.

8. Children Life

According to CDC, children born out of teenage mothers tend to drop out of high school, get lower scores at school, suffer from health issues, unemployment and are prone to be married early.

9. Social Problems

Early marriage also causes social problems. Young people who marry early often do things that are harmful as they feel stuck and unhappy. They cannot get the help they need from social or health services. This makes things harder for the couple. Many times, they feel alone and cut off from friends and family. Due to getting married early, they cannot get a good job or continue their education. They need to focus on their family instead of learning or working. Early marriage stops the young couple from having a good future and makes them feel left out of society. (Source)

Marrying early may seem romantic and convenient, but it has problems. Couples need to get to know each other better, which takes time. Rushing into a marriage, which may not last long, is not the right thing to do. In some countries where child marriage is prevalent, efforts are on by respective Governments to dissuade such a practice.

Another Point of View submitted by one of the user “Holly M”

1. Responsibility

Some young people can and will shoulder responsibility because they have the maturity to do so. If they understand and have learned what it is to be mature and responsible, then it’s a good chance they can shoulder the responsibility of marriage.

2. Domestic Duties

Married life doesn’t have to be all drudgery and domestic duties unless you let it be so. I know dozens of married couples, and they ALL manage to still have fun, even at an early age. It doesn’t mean it’s suddenly all domestic work, and no, that’s not what marriage is. You can have as much fun as you did before you said: “I do.” I know one couple that still throws Phantom Of The Opera-related parties, goes to the theater together, and goes away on lavish vacations. It’s 2011 now, not 1911.

3. Pregnancy

I can’t see how health can be negatively impacted during pregnancy if you know what you’re doing (keep eating healthy, etc.), but if you have a million babies, one straight after the other, health can be affected. This is why I will only have two or three kids if I have any. But as long as I keep having checkups, going to the doctor, staying fit, and eating healthily, pregnancy doesn’t have to hurt health.

4. Breakup

And often, young couples who are responsible and mature can have long-lasting relationships. On the other hand, a couple in their sixties can just as much have a breakdown of marriage as well. It’s not just the young that can break up. Again, this is speaking from experience, as I know many couples in their twenties (or teens). They all have shouldered the responsibility, and all have the maturity to handle marriage with respect, understanding what it means. So far, there have been no divorces or breakups.

5. Career

A couple can then agree to marry after their education is finished and have a steady career. I haven’t found a relationship yet, and I’m still yet to finish another degree, which I plan on starting next year. However, if I end up in a relationship while doing my second degree, I would happily hold off marriage (if that’s even on the cards) until we both have finished our higher education and have a steady career. After all, a marriage is not the be-all-end-all of a relationship.

6. Education

I guess this depends on the individual and what degree they have when they finish studying (heck, I know people who’ve had a Master’s by the time they were 22! And limited work opportunities are hitting everyone regardless of age, thanks to the recession.

7. Parenting

There are books, parenting classes, institutions that can offer advice, advisory websites, heck, even the doctor can provide some guidance. Besides, raising a child, especially a firstborn, is different for everyone. Some people find specific ways of raising a child better than others. And raising a child is a challenge-hopefully a more positive rather than negative one for any parent, whether or not they’ve ever had children before.

Early Marriage FAQ

Which age is best for marriage?

People should get married in their late twenties or early thirties. There are many reasons for this. First of all, by this time, you have had enough time to figure out what you want in a relationship and have developed strong relationships with friends and family members. You are also emotionally stable and have learned how to compromise.

Another reason is that you have established a career by this age and can support yourself financially. Finally, having children later in life may be more difficult if unmarried.

Does early marriage lead to divorce?

It depends on circumstances, including the individual couple’s history and relationship. However, as per a study done by Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA, it was found that early marriage had a significant impact on the risk of divorce. It increases the likelihood of childlessness if the couple is childless.

One study found that couples who married before 18 were more than three times as likely to divorce as those who married after turning 21. The divorce rate for them is close to 70 to 80%(study). Another study found that marriages between people who were younger than 20 years old were 5 times more likely to get a divorce than marriages between people over 30 years old.

It is important to remember that not all young couples who get married will experience marital problems. However, if you consider getting married young, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons before carefully deciding.

Can a 12-year-old get married in the US?

A 12-year-old can get married in the US if they have parental consent and are not under the legal age of majority. You must contact your state’s social services department or child protective services to obtain parental consent. They will then need to review your case and decide if they believe that it is in the child’s best interest to get married. If they agree with you, they will provide you with all the necessary paperwork so you can marry.