Revealed: The hardest marriage vow to keep

Couples share the toughest part of saying "I do."

By Kristin Wong Jan 2, 2013 4:51PM

Who doesn't get goose bumps when couples exchange wedding vows? It's impossible not to be moved when two people promise their lives together, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse.

But it's all too easy to forget the significance of those vows in the middle of an ugly marital spat. And according to a recent survey, some vows are harder to keep than others.

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CBS News polled a random sample of 1,100 adults across the country and asked their thoughts on marriage, love, sex and relationships. One of those questions was: "Which one of these marriage vows is the hardest to keep?" The top answer varied between men and women.

Thirty-two percent of women found "for better or for worse" to be the toughest vow, while the highest percentage of men (27 percent), found it most difficult "to be faithful."

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Conversely, 25 percent of women also found "to be faithful" a tough vow to keep, while 23 percent of men had trouble with "for better or for worse."

Sixteen percent of women said "in sickness and in health" was the hardest vow, compared with a close 17 percent for men. Eighteen percent of men and 12 percent of women said "for richer, for poorer" was the biggest struggle.

But the survey didn't stop at marriage vows. They also asked couples which aspect of living with their partner they found most annoying. Thirty-six percent of respondents said "TV choices" drove them crazy, while 16 percent said household chores caused many annoyances.

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Sharing a bathroom came in third, followed by sharing a bed.

And the old stereotype about annoying in-laws may be officially outdated. Seventy-one percent of those polled said they get along well with their significant other's family.

Love at first sight? Fifty-eight percent of married people believe in it, as do 66 percent of unmarried couples in a relationship. Singles are split on the phenomenon—only 48 percent buy it.

What do you think—do these findings ring true? What do you think is the hardest marriage vow to keep?

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