Expert reveals ‘number one thing’ every marriage must have for it to last

An expert has revealed the 'one thing' every marriage needs if you want it to stand the test of time.

Marriage is a big commitment, and although it seems like everyone on your timeline is walking down the aisle, a 2021/2022 census for England and Wales revealed that marriage rates have fallen below 50 percent for the first time.

With the number of stories about awful dates, dating app fails and the general lack of viable options out there, it's not exactly surprising, but that doesn't mean some of the lucky ones haven't found their match and made that big next step.

If you happen to be one of those people, the next thing for you is ensuring that marriage lasts as long as possible, and according to one Harvard professor, there's one thing every marriage needs to achieve that goal.

Can you guess what it is?

The honeymoon phase doesn't have to end as one Harvard professor appears to have the secret (Getty Stock Image)

Well, Arthur Brooks, a social science expert and professor who has made his career by studying love, believes the key to long-lasting marriage is actually friendship. An underrated type of relationship if you ask me, but according to the expert, it's the most important thing needed for a marriage to sustain.

During an appearance on The Drive Podcast, Brooks said: “The goal of your marriage is not passion, it’s friendship. This is the goal, you must be close friends, ideally best friends, with your spouse.

“One of the most important things for a happy life is a partnership with somebody who will be the last person who you set eyes on as you take your last dying breath…”

It makes a nice change hearing this as we often get bombarded with the idea that the key to being happy in love is money, good looks and an instant spark that doesn't really last past a few weeks.

Although marriage looks different for everyone; some marry for security, lavender marriages work for others, while some marry for citizenship or a tax break, those who marry for romantic love do so with the intention of it lasting for as long as they live - they don't include that in their vows for nothing.

So it might be helpful to know the signs that determine whether or not you're heading for a divorce.

Friendship is the foundation to a long-lasting marriage, which makes sense if you ask me(Flashpop / Getty Stock Image)

Brooks covered that too as he said one of the main signs is loneliness. He said: “One of the greatest predictors of divorce is partners who are lonely while living together and this [means] that the only thing you have in common is your kids.

“[When] that one point of commonality disappears and you’re sitting across the table blinking at each other during dinner and not talking because you literally have nothing to talk about.”

The expert continued: “They [couples] should develop philosophical interests in common, they’re talking about deep things. There’s got to be something bigger than ‘Did you change his diaper?’ Because that’s not going to be in common forever and you’re going to be lonely in your relationship.”

Sound advice from Brooks if you ask me - let's hope it helps out couples before it's too late.