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And the old stereotype about annoying in-laws may be officially outdated.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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Photo: Lane Oatey/Getty Images

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98Comments

Newest

Jan 3, 2013 6:24AM

When two people get married they become one, but remain two fools.

Previous replies

shirleVZ59

Jan 3, 2013 5:51AM

If "tv choices & household chores" are going to cause arguments in marriage the couple might as well file for divorce.

Been married 28 years & those are the EASIEST things we've been thru. Financial: Why fight? You're a couple. Work together.

Sickness: Everyone gets sick support each other.

Infidelity: When you're old (& you will get old) you better take a hard look at just who you want to be with. The person you've chosen to spend your life w/or the person you've chosen to spend 15 minutes in bed with.

Love at first site does NOT exist. It is lust & raging hormones.

Marriage is work. If you're not willing to work at it after the honeymoon phase is over don't bother.

Previous replies

Doog1

Jan 3, 2013 5:17AM

Marriage as a whole is not easy, just ask my wife. I know she has made it much easier for me to keep the vows than I have made it for her. lol.

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Morgan Powys

Jan 3, 2013 4:56AM

hardest for a woman to keep is "dont suck off another man".

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Bat277

Jan 3, 2013 4:48AM

I read a poll recently where 54% of married men admitted cheating on their wives, but, 52% of married women also admitted cheating on their husbands and it seems this trend is more prevalent today than in the past. It would seem that as many married women cheat on their husbands as husbands on their wives. My opinion is watch your spouse closely.

Previous replies

janelle dawn (chocolateprincess73)

Jan 3, 2013 4:40AM

I WILL OBEY MY FUTURE HUSBAND ONLY IF HE MAKES GOOD DECISIONS

Previous replies

gofer73

Jan 3, 2013 4:37AM

Dudes (hims/hers) or if you prefer guys/gals if you only interview thirty people then twenty-seven percent is the majority

Previous replies

Fukurokuju

Jan 3, 2013 4:36AM

Vows? Given the divorce rate in America, I'd call a nuptial statement between most people anything but a vow. Before you get upset with that statement, keep in mind that "most" means anything over 50%. Vow's are things you're bound to fulfill no matter what. That's hardly the case anymore. Many young people (the expedient generation) seem to stay married as long as it remains fun. When it becomes no longer fun (for better or worse) they split. Certainly not all of them, but I think the majority of our youth does not approach marriage the same way older generations did. Naive as it may sound to some people, we believed that our marriage vows were an oath we took before God. I don't see a lot of that these days. Instead i see demonstrations of theater at weddings (pushing cake into each others faces) and more theater for proposals, where the groom arranges for cameras and Internet coverage of him popping the big question to his would be bride. With an approach to marriage like these, is it any wonder so many young people don't take it seriously? I may be wrong, but not by much based on divorce statistics for young people.

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Revealed: The hardest marriage vow to keep

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

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