How Long It Takes for a Man to Decide If He Wants to Marry

Have you met someone special and are wondering if there’s a future in store for the two of you? It’s a common question many of us ponder, and surprisingly, science might have an intriguing answer. According to research from the University of Chicago, it might not take as long as you think to feel certain you’ve found “the one.”

The study tracked 200 individuals, including 102 who were married and 98 who had never been married, to determine how long it took them to consider marriage. Married participants were asked to recall when they met their partners and when they knew they were “the right one.” They then assessed how long it took them to be sure, using a scale from 1 (very quick decision) to 7 (very slow decision). Participants could also specify the exact number of days it took or if it was “more than a year.” Those who were not married were asked to imagine how they would feel upon meeting their life partner and predict how long it would take them to be convinced that they had found the right person.

Generally, unmarried participants anticipated that it would take them longer to be sure they had found their life partner compared to those who were married. Specifically, it took them about 210 days, roughly 7 months, on average. In contrast, married couples indicated that making the decision often happened much more quickly. On average, it took them just 172 days, which is just under 6 months, to know they were ready to spend their lives together.

Many assume that the desire to marry stems from a lengthy, well-considered process of internal deliberation. However, according to Nadav Klein, the researcher behind the study, the decision to marry is more about intuition than prolonged reflection. In other words, when it’s the right person, you just know, and it can happen much faster than anticipated.