Why Is Communication Important in Marriage?

Communication is an important part of marriage.

Communication is a necessary part of life, from work to school to leisure time. Marriages need communication skills. Communication helps the relationship grow and may need to change as people change throughout the marriage. Married couples may have different ways of expressing themselves, but can still understand one another. Communication in marriage should include non-verbal components like good listening, eye contact and positive body language.

Intimacy

Intimacy involves more than physical contact. Intimacy involves emotional openness and understanding, knowing one another in a personal and deep way. Intimacy in a marriage thrives on communication. It is important to communicate about your feelings on a daily basis with your mate, since openness leads to understanding. Your spouse will not know why you are in a bad mood if you do not tell them and may assume responsibility for the sadness if you are not open.

Preventing Problems

Communicating about each other's personal quirks, preferences, wants, needs and beliefs helps each partner learn how to treat the other appropriately. All people need to be loved, but we need to be loved in different ways. If anniversaries and holidays are very important to one spouse, but not as much to the other, for instance, the partner who really cares might feel left out on the holiday if he feels his gift or display of affection was more extravagant. But if he knows in advance that his spouse isn't big on holidays, he might not feel so hurt.

Relationships and Health

Good communication means a healthy relationship. And, according to Discovery Health, can mean a healthier body. Medical research has shown that people who are in good relationships are healthier, on the whole. Stressful relationships, especially the stress of feeling unable to express yourself or be understood, can poorly affect your physical health, not just your psychological health.

Compromise and Decision-Making

If people cannot communicate and understand one another clearly, it will make compromise impossible even if both partners would like to compromise on some decision. Instead, they will be focusing on trying to understand one another. Learning to to communicate well early on in the marriage can set the foundation for a happier marriage overall, but that communication need to be maintained. Holding back or not asking for help won't make the relationship improve.

Conflict Resolution

Some arguments just can't be prevented. But communication can help married couples understand each other's perspectives. In a confrontation, no one is her most patient self, but it is important to listen. It is helpful to understand why the other person is upset, from her point of view. Once the couple can really understand each other's communications styles, a conflict could become an opportunity for intimacy.

Life's Changes

Communication also helps couples plan for life's changes, peaks and valleys. Couples need to communicate about how they spend money and whether they want children, how many and why. Married couples need to make many decisions concerning their children. The process of raising children requires good communication, so there is no parental disconnect in the way the children are treated.

References

• Discovery Health: Communication Skills for Lifelong Relationships